Dangerous rip tides continue to wreak havoc in the Rockaways this summer, with three drownings despite constant warnings not to swim on beaches with no lifeguards on duty.
The body count might have doubled on Monday, Aug. 5, when three swimmers went into the surf near Beach 84th Street in Rockaway Beach at around 7 p.m., an hour after lifeguards went off-duty for the night.
The individuals got caught in a rip tide that pulled them towards a jetty when they were spotted by Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officers who sprang into action.
“I was riding up the beach, patrolling, and heard over the radio that someone was potentially drowning,” PEP Officer Elijah Ammi said. “I came back to the vehicle with a City Seasonal Aide, and I could see that he was scared. When we pulled up to the water, I could see a young woman screaming for help.”
Ammi snatched something from the woman before he raced into the surf in his full uniform to rescue two swimmers who were caught in the rip current.
“I grabbed a piece of cloth like a scarf from her and used that to pull the swimmers back in,” Ammi said. His work was not finished.
“The third swimmer was crashing against the jetty. He had gone in to help, but he was pulled out by the rip current, and he had bruises from the rocks,” Ammi recalled. “I was able to get him out, and the other officer was able to call for emergency assistance to get him to the hospital.”
The rescue was assisted by New York City Emergency Management personnel who were operating drones deployed on site, and coordinated dispatch to the FDNY for emergency response. The man who was trapped against the jetty was transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center unconscious but breathing. The other two swimmers were not in need of additional medical attention.
“We are grateful for the heroic action of our brave Parks Enforcement Officers for their swift response to keep these swimmers safe,” a NYC Parks spokesperson said. “We continue to urge New Yorkers to only swim when and where lifeguards are on duty.”
Rockaway Beach is open for swimming from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Council Member Joann Ariola praised PEP Officer Ammi and all who helped him. “We are all very lucky that Parks Enforcement Officer Ammi was at the right place at the right time on Monday evening,” Ariola said. “Thanks to his heroism and quick thinking, we were able to avoid another tragedy on the beach this summer. This incident should serve as a reminder that people should only swim when lifeguards are present because next time, we might not be so lucky as to have someone like Officer Ammi on hand, ready to spring into action and save a life.”
