Coast Guard searches for Jones Beach swimmer

One man went missing off Jones Beach during a day when strong rip currents swept at least a dozen swimmers into the choppy surf, authorities said.

At 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, three men believed to be in their early 20s went into the surf at Jones Beach near the central mall and parking field 4, officials said.

Sometime later, two of the men got back on the beach. The third man, 23, never made it out of the water, officials. His name was not released.

At 9:30 p.m., a Nassau County police helicopter circled above the waters off Jones Beach shining a bright searchlight into the surf. The Coast Guard, which had boats in the water and rescue helicopters in the air, was overseeing the search.

Asked whether it's normal to see drownings before Memorial Day, George Gorman of the state office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, said "No, especially when the water is in the upper 50s."

Throughout the day Wednesday, fire rescue and police pulled about 10 people from the water, according to Kemins, while surfers and others helped several more.

The Jones Beach swimmers were among thousands who flocked to Long Island beaches for relief from temperatures topping 90 degrees. Beaches across Long Island are not set to open until Saturday for the start of the Memorial Day weekend.

No lifeguards were on duty at Jones Beach, Robert Moses State Park's beaches or Long Beach Wednesday, officials said.