2 teenagers disappear in waters off New York park, their distraught parents struggle to sleep: 'God, let them come back'

A teenager and his friend disappeared in the waters of Jacob Riis Park in New York on Friday June 21. Since Friday evening, Elyjha Chandler and another teenager have been missing, while divers search the sea.

The parents of Chandler, 16, kept vigil at the beach on Saturday June 22. It was reported that the two teenagers were swept away while they were knee-deep in water.

“He wasn't far out in the water… One of the boys told me that when the water hit them, it was like a demon was coming towards them,” Chandler's father said, Urshell Chandler. He said his son didn't know how to swim and had planned to come to the beach instead of going to basketball practice.

“I will continue to pray”

The New York Post described how Chandler's mother, Aminatu Noah, sat near the water's edge, tears streaming down her face as her legs shook. “Why? Why? Why?” Noah cried. “I just want to stay here.”

“I just want them back.” I want them to come closer to us,” she added. “My only son. My God, let them come back. …God is in control. I will continue to pray.

A police spokeswoman confirmed Chandler and his friend Christian, 17, had gone swimming around 6.35pm. However, they never returned.

Generally, lifeguards are stationed in the national park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer. Chandler's family said the rescuers left early.

Urshell said he learned that a good Samaritan tried to help Chandler and Christian, along with two other teenagers, who had gone into the water. “A man took it out. He looked at Elijah. His eyes were wide open. Elijah went up and down three times, and then they didn’t see him again,” he said.

“I was hoping he would come out of the water and say, 'I'm here,'” the father added. “It's very difficult. I cried. I couldn't sleep last night.”

“He’s the perfect little brother.”

Chandler's sister, Shawanda Chandler, said her brother stayed with his friends even though he had enough credits to graduate and go to college this summer. “He’s the perfect little brother,” she said, adding that he was “always smiling.”

Shawanda said through tears that her brother “was afraid of water.” “…It’s unfair to be alive. My brother was going to do so much,” she cried.

Urshell said her son really enjoyed basketball and school. “Her score was one of the highest in her class,” he said. “He received so many awards for his academic achievements – all the time. »

Meanwhile, on Saturday evening, the Coast Guard announced that the search for the teenagers had been called off. “The decision to suspend a search is always difficult and weighs heavily on everyone involved,” Capt. Jonathan Andrechik, commander of Coast Guard Sector New York, said in a press release. “Our teams, along with our partner agencies, have carried out an exhaustive search and our thoughts remain with the families during this difficult time.”

According to the Coast Guard, crews made sure to search more than 600 square miles, from Sandy Hook, New Jersey, to Long Beach, New York.