A 14-year-old boy tragically drowned after getting caught in rough waters off Rockaway beach in New York.
The tragedy happened on Sunday at 6pm after lifeguards installed red flags forcing the close beach to close early due to lightning and thunder.
Lifeguards left the area around 5.30pm when beachgoers started yelling after a boy was seen struggling in the water for "several minutes", according to eyewitnesses.
A retired lifeguard quickly rushed into the rough waters and reached the body of the teenager as the boy's horrified mum looked on.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services, the teen could not be revived and was pronounced dead at St John's Hospital.
Basia Lewandowski, a retired lifeguard who was at the scene, said it was a "miracle" his body was found.
He told NBC New York: "The lifeguard started diving. It is a miracle we found his body."
Sharon Grant, an eyewitness, gave her towel to the emergency responders as she stood next to the teenager's mum.
"They went into CPR and tried to shock him back to see if there was any life there," Ms Grant said. "I didn't look at him because I was praying with the mom."
"It's a horror, an absolute horror to start a holiday and lose someone like that, but you can't swim when there's no lifeguards," said eyewitness Tim Moriarty.
The boy's name has not been released by authorities.
An investigation into the circumstances that led up to the drowning is currently underway, according to officials.
The tragic incident comes just days after a heroic dad fishing with his son drowned after rescuing two children from a lake.
Marvin Alexan Fernandez Chicas, 37, and his three-year-old son Dylan were fishing at Tohickon Creek in Pennsylvania, US, on Thursday when at around 5pm, he spotted the children struggling to swim in the lake.
Mr Chicas was able to bring the struggling children safely to the shore but soon started to struggle himself after the dad "disappeared in the water", according to Wesley Robinson, a spokesperson for the Department of Conversation and National Resources.z
The rescued children called 911 and said the dad needed help, according to Fire Chief Harry Grim, from Haycock Township.
Mr Grim said: "They apparently got in some trouble in the water, he went in to help them. Unfortunately he can't swim. The kids got out, he did not."
Despite best efforts to find the missing dad, his body was recovered 25ft from the shore. The children were unharmed.
Mr Grim said swimming is strictly prohibited in the creek and in the 1,450-acre Lake Nockamixon.
He said: "Don't swim in Lake Nockamixon.. it's zero visibility this time of year. Divers at 10 feet cannot see their own hands in front of their face."
