First responders say they tried to save the 15-year-old at Gulfstream Park

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – The 15-year-old teen who drowned on the beach at Gulfstream Park on Sunday has been identified as Prestyn Smith of Lake Worth.

For the first time, WPTV is hearing from first responders who were in the water to find Smith.

It was a multi-agency effort, with helicopters, jet skis and divers searching the water for the missing teen.

“One of the things that I personally take comfort in when we’re on such a stressful phone call is knowing that we did absolutely everything we could, that makes things a little easier,” said Boynton Beach Fire Rescue. Captain Steven Permenter on the phone.

Boynton Beach

Boy, 15, drowns near Gulfstream Park in Palm Beach Co.

He said when he arrived at the scene, he did not see Smith, but went into the water to rescue the mother who was also struggling with the current and trying to find her son.

“She wanted to go help her child and had to explain to her that we had to try to get her in as quickly as possible so that we can make sure we can get her safely and do our best to get the child. Permenter said.

He said he is an experienced swimmer and it took about four other people to fight through waves and currents and help get her back.

“Were you at any time concerned about your own safety?” asked WPTV’s Joel Lopez.

“It was definitely difficult,” Permenter said. “I wanted to make sure she got in as soon as possible.”

Permenter said he swallowed a lot of water during the rescue, which caused him to become short of breath and vomit, and he had to go to the hospital.

He is now recovering from the incident.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said the calls came in just after 7:27 a.m. Sunday.

“It’s very sad,” said Tracy Shelley, a lifeguard with Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue.

She said the day was ultimately designated as a red flag day, but lifeguards check in at 7:30 a.m. to train and do their morning workouts, and the family was in the water before they were set up.

“We didn’t fly the flag in the morning because we weren’t open,” Shelley said.

She said she and two lifeguards who were at Gulfstream Park Beach responded immediately and she rushed to help.

“I went in in my running clothes, swimming,” Shelley said. “You couldn’t see it; it was visible three feet or less.”

She urges beachgoers not to swim in the water until a lifeguard is present.

“Even this morning I swam in the current to really get familiar with how the water is moving, and even when it was a lot smaller, it was almost impossible for me, a professional, to swim against that current,” Shelley said . “So someone who is an ordinary person and not trained or maybe doesn’t have a high level of swimming skill, that’s a little bit impossible for him.”

A yellow flag flew at Gulfstream Park Beach on Monday, with the beach full of people.

“We are a bit in shock,” said Angeleka Schmidt, who is vacationing in Gulfstream from Germany.

She said she was at the beach when the search began and is praying for the family who lost their loved ones.

“Yesterday everyone looked at the sea looking for the boy,” Schmidt said. “We saw the body come out, it was so sad.”