Rescue Operation For 16-Year-Old Boy Missing off Coast Near Border

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a missing teenage swimmer off the coast of Imperial Beach with help from a San Diego Police helicopter and lifeguards from Tijuana, Imperial Beach and Silver Strand State Beach, according to the federal maritime agency.

Border Patrol agents initially spotted the 16-year-old go under water around 1:30 p.m. in the surf near the U.S.-Mexico border approximately 50 yards west of a fence that extends into the water, said Imperial Beach lifeguard Captain Robert Stabenow.

The Coast Guard launched a 33-foot rescue boat a, 41-foot vessel and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to search for the missing teen. A San Diego police chopper is also involved in the effort.

"Unfortunately it's a little bit typical in people trying to cross that fence and getting caught in that rip current," said Silver Strand State Beach Lifeguard Supervisor Michael Martino, who said the initial search and rescue operation progressed into a search for the boy's body.

"The last report I had from my guys was everybody on the scene including Coast Guard believes the body is south of the border," he said. "The rip current near that fence typically pulls to the south."

Imperial Beach lifeguard personal watercraft assisted in the search until around 4:30 p.m. Silver Strand personal watercraft assisted until 6:30 p.m. and also had lifeguards on the beach until sunset.