'We are in a state of emergency': 6th drowning reported at NYC beaches this summer

A 26-year-old man drowned at Rockaway Beach last Wednesday while lifeguards were on duty, bringing the total number of people who have died along New York City’s shoreline this summer to six.

The number of drownings has raised concerns about the city’s lifeguard shortage and New Yorkers’ access to swimming lessons. Since last month, elected officials have called for extending lifeguards' working hours . But unlike the other five reported drownings this summer, last Wednesday’s happened around 5 p.m., an hour before lifeguards clear their shifts.

A spokesperson for the city's parks department said lifeguards rushed from their chairs into the water off Beach 94th Street while people flagged down emergency medical workers. The man was in cardiac arrest, unconscious and not breathing — but still had a pulse — when he was pulled from the water, spokesperson Meghan Lalor said. The man's death was previously unreported.

“We’re saddened by this tragic loss of life and our hearts go out to the victim's family and friends,” Lalor wrote to Gothamist.

Police have not released the man’s identity. Parks officials said they were investigating the incident.

“This is exactly why we need comprehensive solutions,” said Councilmember Shekar Krishnan of Queens, who chairs the parks committee. “We need not only more lifeguard coverage but we need water safety education. Every New York City child needs to learn how to swim.”

In June, a wave swept away two Brooklyn teenagers at Jacob Riis Park. Two weeks later, two teenage sisters from the Bronx drowned at Coney Island.

Moises Rodriguez, 30, drowned on Monday near Beach 96th Street in Rockaway.

Six people have drowned at city beaches this summer — the highest number since 2019, when at least seven people drowned along the coasts.

The city, which has faced a lifeguard shortage since the COVID-19 pandemic, has been working to bolster the ranks. Parks officials have said they’ve wrested more control over the training process from the lifeguard union's leadership, which has for decades held sway over who gets hired for the jobs at beaches and pools.

But Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said Mayor Eric Adams’ administration needs to do much more to keep New Yorkers safe in the water. “These deaths are all preventable,” he said.

“We are in a state of emergency,” added Richards. “And the administration needs to come to the table with sound solutions that will ensure that we don't lose more lives. This is about saving lives.”

Richards called on Adams to improve coordination between the NYPD Harbor Unit, NYC Emergency Management and others to help patrol the beaches after lifeguards finish their shifts. He also said Adams' office should do more to increase access to swimming lessons for children.

A spokesperson for the mayor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The NYPD, FDNY and NYC Emergency Management use drones to monitor city waters at Rockaway Beach. None of the agencies immediately responded to questions when asked if the technology was deployed during last Wednesday’s drowning.