The 18-year-old who vanished amid the turbulent waves off Rockaway Beach earlier this week was a senior from a Bronx high school, eagerly anticipating his graduation next month.
Devastated family members have identified the young man as Brandon Figueroa from Soundview, describing him as having “a future full of promise.”
According to his mother, Jeanette Munoz, who shared the news on a GoFundMe page, Figueroa was “a good kid,” a senior at The Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of Letters, and was on the cusp of graduating next month.
“Our family is struggling to cope with this unforeseen and devastating loss,” she expressed.
Munoz revealed that her son harbored dreams of becoming an electrician and had plans to attend trade school.
Figueroa was among a group of approximately five swimmers who ventured into the waters near 73rd Street and Shore Front Parkway at around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Onlooker Nemaiah Dos Santos recalled to The Post that “five of them went running out, four of them came out, and one of the four was carrying the boy out, literally trying to pull him back in.
“But how far they were into the water, it swept him out of his hand,” said Dos Santos.
Figueroa’s friends called 911 after he was swept away.
“I just started crying so bad for the boy, cause it’s like it’s one thing to see that happen, but it’s another thing to be the person trying to at least help, and that s–t broke me,” said Dos Santos.
Julian Eastmead, who witnessed the commotion recalled commotion as well.
“I couldn’t hear too much, but it was just literally tears, cell phone in hand, crying, trying to tell whoever brought them to the beach that they’re not going to be able to bring whoever was at the beach with them home,” said Eastmead.
FDNY and NYPD personnel launched an air and sea search for Figueroa, but were unable to locate him.
Lifeguards are not on duty at Big Apple beaches until Memorial Day weekend.
