Search called off for missing teen swimmer in Huntington Beach

Candlelight vigil for missing 15-year-old swimmer

The Coast Guard has called off the search for a 15-year-old Huntington Beach boy who went missing while swimming over the weekend. Friends, family and community members gathered for a vigil to honor him.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - The search has been called off for a teen who disappeared while swimming in Huntington Beach over the weekend.

First responders received a call at about 9 p.m. Sunday about the missing swimmer and began a search with lifeguards in the water, on land and in the air with a helicopter, according to authorities.

The teen, who is believed to be a 15-year-old boy, was last spotted in the water near Lifeguard Tower 11, between Twin Dolphin and Huntington streets. The teen went swimming with another person who later got out and realized the other teen was missing and called police.

Search called off for missing swimmer

The search has been called off for a teen who disappeared while swimming in Huntington Beach over the weekend.

Circumstances surrounding the teen's disappearance are not clear at this time, but officials noted there were strong rip currents in the area earlier in the day.

The Coast Guard suspended its search Monday at about 8 p.m.

"The decision to suspend an active search is never easy and is only made after exhaustive efforts to find the missing person," said Capt. Stacey Crecy, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach. "Our hearts ache for his family and friends."

The search spanned from the Bolsa Chica Wetlands to Newport, with crews searching by air and sea for nearly 20 hours, covering approximately 105 square miles, according to the Coast Guard.

City News Service contributed to this report.