Search continues today at the Shore

    The Coast Guard is leading the search for a 17-year-old boy who disappeared while swimming late Sunday afternoon off Long Branch.

    A Coast Guard cutter began a “first light” search at 5:30 this morning, according to NJ.com and the Associated Press.

    Family and friends reported the unidentified teenager missing at 5:41 p.m. Sunday, according to Long Branch Police Lt. Frank Morey. Emergency personnel, including State Police and the Coast Guard, were unable to locate the teen after a five-hour search Sunday night.

    The boy was reportedly swimming in the area of Ocean Avenue and Melrose Terrace when friends told police he “went under and didn’t come back up,” Morey said. Police have not said if lifeguards were on duty at the time.

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    While the teenager’s name was withheld, Morey and Coast Guard officials described him as an Hispanic male with brown eyes and black hair, who was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and khaki shorts. Several reports indicted the teenager was from Paterson.

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