Sunday marked day two of the search for an 8-year-old boy who beach officials said disappeared into the ocean at New Smyrna Beach.

  • Boy, 8, disappears in ocean off New Smyrna Beach
  • He was with his family when he was swept under the water
  • Officials have been searching since Saturday

Bridget Senfield, who is visiting from New York, is still shaken up after watching the search for the Orange County. Senfield said she and her children witnessed the incident.

"I came back in because the waves — you couldn't even catch a wave. It was just dangerous I could feel it and I told my kids today's not a good day," Senfield said.

Volusia Beach Safety said the boy was with his family, swimming at the beach. However, shortly after 3 p.m., he was swept under the fast-moving water.

"So many people on the beach, wanted to know what happened, what could we do," said Senfield.

The boy's 11-year-old sister was later rushed to the hospital after trying to save him.

Helicopters, coast guards, and lifeguards have been searching ever since.

Crews returned to the beach at sunrise after they couldn't find the boy Saturday night.

"We saw the mom there and just look like she was in shock it was just very upsetting, just an all around upsetting situation," Senfield said.

"It's a rip current issue right now. We've got really bad surf, the surf is bad it gives you a lot of foam, a lot of white water where it's not easy to swim through that stuff," said Liz Driskell, Deputy Chief, Beach Safety.

Driskell said the current also makes it hard to search.

She said the kids weren't near a lifeguard station when the boy disappeared.

"We stress that, please swim in front of a lifeguard tower," she said.

Senfield is keeping an even closer eye on her three children and looking for the boy as well.

"It's scary out there,” she said. “It's fun, it's a lot of fun, but it's unbelievable how quickly that ocean can turn. My middle guy was up worried half the night kept saying I'm so worried about that little boy. He saw the sister get pulled in, he saw the mom, these kids they get it, prayers for the sister for the family and for everybody."

Beach Safety Officials said the water is still rough and recommend swimmers stay within waist deep water and children stay with an adult. 

The boy's sister is doing fine.

Officials said if you're in a rip current, let the water pull you out of the rip, relax, float and let the current drift you then swim to shore and yell for help.

If you'd like to assist the missing swimmer's family, please contact Volusia County Beach Ocean Safety Rescue, (386) 547-6812 or edriskell@volusia.org.