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14-Year-Old Boy Drowns In Waters Off Of Far Rockaway

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A 14-year-old boy died Tuesday after being pulled from the waters off of Far Rockaway.

The boy -- identified as Akeem Craig -- and his friend had been trying to swim to a buoy in the ocean off Beach 19th Street and Seagirt Boulevard around 12:30 p.m., according to police.

1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reports

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When Craig's friend realized he couldn't make it, he turned around and started to swim back to shore, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported.

At some point he realized Craig wasn't behind him, but got into trouble in the water himself while trying to swim back to get the boy, D'Auria reported.

A passerby saw the boy's friend and pulled him to safety, police said. Craig was in cardiac arrest when divers pulled him out of the water about 45 minutes after he went missing.

After rescue crews tried to resuscitate the boy for some 30 minutes, he was rushed to St. John's Episcopal Hospital where he was pronounced dead, CBS 2's John Slattery reported.

According to witnesses, the boys had been swimming in an area without a lifeguard on duty. A nearby fisherman had advised the boys not to go out, according to people at the scene. A red flag had also been posted, CBS 2's Slattery reported.

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