14-year-old boy drowns at Daytona Beach, officials say

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A 14-year-old boy is dead after beach officials said he drowned in the ocean at Daytona Beach on Thursday.

Deputy Chief Tamra Mulphurs said on July 7, the boy from Altamonte Springs was swimming with friends near the Hard Rock Hotel around 7:30 p.m. 

"The three other teens he was swimming with started making their way to shore when they could no longer see him," officials said. 

Search efforts were conducted by Beach Safety and the Coast Guard using rescue skis, drones, and rescue swimmers. 

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The boy was later found less than a mile north of where he went missing at about 9:30 p.m. by bystanders. 

"We saw the jet skis come out, the lifeguards on foot, lifeguards on the backs of jet skis, the police drone was there, just heavy, heavy, first responder presence," said Kelly Pagan, a witness. "I want to say about a half mile down the beach, you saw people waving flashlights. That's when the remaining first responders were there and you heard the rest coming back down the beach."

"We provided CPR and other lifesaving measures, he was transported to the hospital where he later was pronounced deceased," Malphurs explained.

Mulphurs reminded swimmers during a news conference on Friday to always try and swim in front of a staffed lifeguard tower and if there isn't one, it's best to avoid going in the water. She also warns that if you find yourself in a rip current, don't panic and try to swim parallel to the shore. 

"It's just been busy out there in the water. We want people to know that you come over here, make sure you're in front of those staffed lifeguard towers," she added.

Muphurs says hazardous rip currents have been an issue at beaches over the last few months and they have rescued 1,600 swimmers since the beginning of the year.