Coast Guard calls off search for missing swimmer off Huntington Beach – Orange County Register

A 15-year-old boy was still missing off the coast of Huntington Beach Monday evening after going swimming with a friend the night before, authorities said.

The U.S. Coast Guard deployed boats and helicopters to assist with the search on the water and from above on Monday, Huntington Beach spokeswoman Jennifer Carey said. The Coast Guard search, which lasted nearly 20 hours and covered about 105 miles, was called off around 8 p.m. Monday, officials said.

The teen was reported missing around 9 p.m. near Lifeguard Tower 11 between Twin Dolphin and Huntington streets and south of the Huntington Beach Pier after his friend came out of the water and found the boy had not come out with him, Carey said. First responders began searching in the water, on land and in the air with the help of an Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter, Carey said Sunday night. Divers and swimmers were pulled from the water around 10:40 p.m. while the search continued on land and by air.

“The decision to cease an active search is never easy and is only made after extensive efforts to locate the missing person,” said Captain Stacey Crecy, commander of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach. “Our condolences go out to his family and friends.”

Strong rip currents and waves of three to five feet were reported in the area on Sunday.

On Monday, the search area was expanded to include the area between the Bolsa Chica Wetlands and Newport Beach, said Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer Loumania Stewart.

The search team included a small rescue boat and a 90-foot patrol boat from the Coast Guard, the Huntington Beach Lifeguard, the Orange County Fire Department, and the Huntington Beach Fire and Police Departments.

At 7 p.m. Monday, swimming and diving activities ended for the day, Carey said. Aerial searches using police helicopters continued at regular intervals before the search was officially called off.

City News Service contributed to this report.