Grieving Parents Await News as Scuba Divers Search for Missing Teens.
The parents of a 16-year-old boy who disappeared in the waters off Jacob Riis Park spent Saturday keeping vigil at the beach as scuba divers continued to search the sea for the second straight day. Elyjha Chandler and another teen have been missing since Friday night when they were suddenly swept under while standing in knee-high water, according to Chandler’s father.
He wasn’t far out in the water,” said a stunned Urshell Chandler, who noted that his son couldn’t swim and had come to the beach on a whim at the last minute instead of going to basketball practice. Elyjha’s mother sat near the water’s edge in tears, her legs shaking as she begged aloud for her son’s safe return. Why? Why? Why?” Aminatu Noah cried, expressing her desire for the boys to come back and walk up to them.
Chandler and his 17-year-old friend, identified only as Christian, went into the water around 6:35 p.m. on Friday and never emerged, according to a police spokeswoman. Lifeguards are stationed at the state park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer; however, the family contended that the lifeguards left early. The state did not return a message seeking comment.
Elyjha and Christian were among four teens who went into the water when a good Samaritan tried to get them out, according to Urshell Chandler. A man pulled him out,” he said of his son. His eyes were opened wide. Elijah went up and down three times and then they didn’t see him again.
Urshell continued to hope that his son would come out of the water. I was hoping he’ll come out of the water and say, ‘I’m here,'” he said. It’s very hard. I cried. I could not sleep last night.” Elyjha’s older sister, Shawanda, also expressed her grief, describing him as sweet, always smiling, and someone who was afraid of the water.
Urshell recalled his son’s love of basketball and school, noting that he had one of the highest scores in his class and received numerous awards for academic achievements. The proud father spent time at the edge of the water looking for any sign of his son, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
On Saturday night, the Coast Guard announced they were calling off the search for the boys. The decision to suspend a search is always difficult and weighs heavily on all involved,” said Capt. Jonathan Andrechik, commander of Coast Guard Sector New York in a press release. Our crews, along with our partner agencies, have conducted an exhaustive search, and our thoughts remain with the families during this difficult time.
The Coast Guard reported that they had searched more than 600 square miles from Sandy Hook, New Jersey, to Long Beach, New York.
