Rescue crews continue search for missing swimmer

The search for a 14-year-old swimmer from Georgia, who went missing in the ocean Thursday, continued Friday.

The swimmer, described as a black male wearing blue swim trunks, was reported missing about 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the ocean near 73rd Avenue North in Myrtle Beach.

Police were called to the scene in reference to two distressed swimmers, who were brothers, said Lt. Joey Crosby with Myrtle Beach Police. The younger brother was rescued by a lifeguard, treated and released on the scene. The brothers are from Columbus, Ga.

The water search was suspended Thursday because of dangerous conditions brought on by lightning; however, authorities did not stop searching for the missing teen and combed the shore throughout the night, Crosby said.

The search along the beach continued Friday morning, Crosby said.

On Thursday, lifeguards, beach-goers, and rescue crews all banded together to find the missing teen and formed a lengthy human chain made up of about 150 people in an effort to find the swimmer in the water.

Multiple agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, aided in search and rescue efforts Thursday, canvassing the beach and searching the water.

The search stretched into the afternoon Friday, and Crosby said police would continue their efforts until the teen was found.

“It’s a sad situation. The ocean is very powerful and can be very dangerous, and that’s why we always tell people to always use as much caution as possible,” said Denny Starr, lifeguard.

Starr was on duty Thursday and said the water was very rough.

“I was in the water for a couple hours yesterday and got hit and knocked under water repeatedly,” he said.

The missing swimmer would likely not be in the same area around 73rd Avenue North where he disappeared Thursday because of the water current, but Starr said he and other lifeguards would be keeping an eye out for him.

“We’ll all be keeping our eyes open,” he said.

Starr recommended beach-goers always swim close to a lifeguard and not venture into water that’s too deep.

This story was originally published June 17, 2016 at 8:22 AM with the headline "Rescue crews continue search for missing swimmer."