DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. – A 13-year-old Port Orange boy drowned Sunday night in the ocean off Daytona Beach Shores, according to Volusia County Beach Safety officials.
The boy, who was at the beach with his family and friends, was in the water near the Sunglow Fishing Pier around 6:40 p.m. when he got caught in a rip current and was pulled underwater, beach officials said.
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Rescuers performed a search and recovered the boy’s body about 40 minutes later, according to authorities.
“Two of those kids were able to get to shore safely and unfortunately the one that didn’t drowned,” said Captain Tammy Malphurs with Volusia County Beach Safety. “It happened pretty fast. They turned around and he was gone.”
Beach Patrol expects rip currents to be strong the next several days, too.
“These things happen. Even the strongest swimmers can get caught in a rip current and it can happen pretty fast that’s why it’s so important to swim in front of those staffed lifeguard towers,” she said.
Authorities later released two 911 calls that were placed after the boy was pulled under.
A woman called 911 saying that a boy who was with her son disappeared in the water.
“One of the children that was with me went out a little too far and we can’t find him in the water,” she said. “I guess rip currents got him. We can’t see him.”
A bystander also called 911.
“There’s a victim in the water. A father is looking for a young boy,” a 911 caller said. “We need help. I just walked up.”
Malphurs said the teen was recovered about an hour after the calls came in.
No other details have been released.