Jul 27, 2008 6:55 am US/Eastern
Police Divers Search Coney Island For Missing Girl
BROOKLYN (CBS) ―
Officers patrol the waters at Coney Island, searching for a 10-year-old girl who went missing.
Little Akira Johnson and her cousin Tyriek, 10, were playing in the ocean off West 23rd Street Saturday. Both started to struggle in the water, and people on shore yelled for lifeguards to help.
"She's a very bright child. She's my grandkid," Charles German said.
"She's screaming there's kids drowning then they took the little boy out and after that the little girls hand that was the last thing and she was gone," witness Wanda Gonzalez said.
It started to get dark and family and friends were told the best place to wait for word of the search was at home.
"The lifeguards were able to save Tyriek but they couldn't get to Akira cause she was too far out," German said before crying.
"The last time her little arm went up and that's what I saw and she just disappeared she was gone," said witness Mark Vega.
At home Akira's family said they'll pray for her safe return.
"Praying for her, hope everyone else will pray for her for me," German said.
All swimmers in the area are warned of dangerous undertows and rip currents in the water Saturday.
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