Search For Missing Boynton Beach Teen Called Off
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – The search for a teen who vanished while swimming in ocean near Boynton Beach has been called off.
Rodelson Normil, 17, was with friends off the beach in the town of Gulf Stream of Friday afternoon when he went under the water and didn't surface, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
The Coast Guard searched for the Boynton Beach Community High School junior through Saturday with no luck.
South Florida's beaches have been under warning flags for the last couple of days due to heavy surf and dangerous rip currents.
The Coast Guard urges all beach goers to stay out of the water where red flags are flying.
A rip current is a narrow powerful current which runs perpendicular to the beach, out into the ocean. These currents may extend 200 to 2,500 feet lengthwise, but they are typically less than 30 feet wide. Rip currents can often move at more than 5 miles per hour or faster.
Guide: How To Escape A Rip Current
Beach goers are urged, whenever possible, to swim at a lifeguard-protected beach. If unsure of what the warning flags mean, ask a lifeguard about the conditions before going in the water. According to the United States Lifesaving Association, 80 percent of surf beach rescues are attributed to rip currents. Pay especially close attention to children and persons who are elderly when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause loss of footing.
Also stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist alongside these structures.
