Heavy surf stirred up by Tropical Storm Arthur pictured at Surfside Beach on June 17, 2026. Authorities are searching for a teenager who went missing under the water on Friday afternoon. Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

Authorities were searching for a 16-year-old Friday night at Surfside Beach after he started struggling to swim and went underwater.

In an interview with Fox 26, Surfside Beach Police Chief Phillip Hester said officers received reports of the swimmer in distress around 1:30 p.m. Once officers arrived, they spoke with the teenager's girlfriend and her mother who said they saw him swimming with difficulty.

Several beachgoers tried to help him but were unsuccessful, Hester said.


The agency launched a drone and was being assisted by the Coast Guard and Texas EquuSearch.

Surfside Beach police did not immediately respond to request for comment.

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The search comes as a rip current risk remained in effect for Brazoria and Galveston county beaches per the National Weather Service. The advisory lasts until 1 a.m. Saturday. Swimmers were used to swim near a lifeguard, and away from rocks, jetties and piers.

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