Rip Current — Southern Queens, New York

2020-05-22 · Southern Queens, New York

Event narrative

A 24 year old Brooklyn man drowned at Rockaway Beach around 3pm May 22nd 2020.

First responders received a call just before 3 p.m. Friday about three men in distress in the water. The NYPD said the three men, all in their 20s, got caught in a rip current.

Two of them were able to make it out OK, but a third man, a 24-year-old Fidel Ramirez of Brooklyn, was swept under the water. Eventually, first responders did reach him. He was rushed to the hospital, but he did not survive.

The victim went into the water along Beach 84th Street, but he was pulled out along Beach 91st Street.

No life guards were on duty. A high rip current risk was in effect.

Wider weather episode

A high rip current risk was expected on Friday May 22nd as long period east to southeast swells continued the day after a high surf event, along with onshore flow of around 10 kt.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 899873. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.