Two teens were safely rescued from the waters off Coney Island Saturday, according to official accounts.
Witnesses said a man who went in after the kids also needed to be rescued. They say they could tell something was wrong when they heard screams coming from the water.
"When I got to the shore, I could tell it was a grown man. I'm like, 'Oh, this has to be serious, because a grown man is being pulled away by the water,'" said witness Ciara Larios.
"I heard the kid screaming. When he was screaming, I ran to my phone to call the cops," said witness Miguel Pearson. He said the fire department, ocean rescue and lifeguards were in the water within minutes to get the people out of the water.
According to official accounts, the two children who were rescued were ages 14 and 16.
Pearson said he comes to the beach frequently and sees people swimming even on days when the flags are red, which indicate unsafe swimming conditions. He hopes more resources can be implemented at the beach, especially on holidays.