VBPD: Recovery efforts for two missing swimmers halted due to rough seas

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Two males are still missing as crews from multiple agencies search the waters around the Oceanfront.

Video Credit: Eric Carlson

Sunday morning, Virginia Beach Police, Marine Police, United States Coast Guard and United States Navy crews were conducting a recovery effort.

Bruce Nedelka, Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services Division Chief tells 10 On Your Side that on Saturday night around 8:30p.m., several people called 911 dispatchers for a report of three males in distress. One of them was pulled from the water, the other two men never resurfaced. Crews searched from 15th street to 40th street until late Saturday night.

Online aircraft trackers showed Coast Guard helicopters from Elizabeth City continuing the search around sunrise.

By noon, VBPD announced that the search had been halted due to rough seas and that the two missing individuals are still unaccounted for.

Virginia Beach EMS concluded its search and rescue effort late Saturday night.

"We heard the news last night about what happened. We feel for the families, of course," said Ulysses Howard, Virginia Beach resident.

Howard, a Navy Veteran, is hopeful the man in critical condition will be okay.

"All we can do is just keep praying and hope people are careful when [they] come down here. Enjoy it. It's peaceful. It's beautiful. Just be careful. That's all," said Howard.