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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WTKR) — The search for a teacher near False Cape State Park in Virginia Beach has turned into a recovery mission.
Around 12:40 p.m. Tuesday, police received a call in regards to a drowning in the 4000 block of Sandpiper Road.
Reports say that a 35-year-old man was reported missing after entering the water to help a 13-year-old that got caught in a rip current near Little Island City Park.
The man was able to save the teen but has not been seen since then.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, a 45-foot Response Boat and a medium boat crew from Coast Guard Station Little Creek are currently searching alongside crews from the Virginia Beach Fire Department and the Virginia Marine Police.
That child was transported to a hospital and is in stable condition.
There are no lifeguards in the area, and red flags were flying. Swimming is prohibited in that area, so it’s unclear why anyone was in the water.
“Water is pulling in two different directions. The in-shore current’s going north, the outer current’s going south, so it’s kinda making it difficult for search patterns, as well as the water is in rough conditions. There are red flags in the Sandbridge area, and this happened on a beach were swimming is prohibited,” said Cat Watson with Virginia Beach EMS.
Norfolk Rabbi Alexander Haber spoke with News 3 reporter Chelsea Donovan, saying that he saw a bunch of kids swimming in False Cape State Park and a male went in after one of the children that were struggling.
Haber said he is aware there was no swimming in the waters but would not elaborate as to why the children were in there. He is asking the public for prayers at this hour.
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