Aisha Mohammed, 18, and Zainab Mohammed, 17, originally from Nigeria but residing in the Bronx, were reported missing on Friday night, July 5.
They were last seen entering the water in the area of Stillwell Avenue and Boardwalk West, the NYPD reported.
According to police, around 8 p.m. on Friday, the sisters were swimming at Stillwell & Boardwalk West when they vanished from view.
Witnesses told WABC-TV that a rainstorm began, prompting most beachgoers to seek shelter.
However, the two sisters entered the rough ocean waters. One witness mentioned that a man attempted to stop them, but was unable to swim himself. It remains unclear if he knew the victims.
A relative told News 12 that the sisters were at the beach with six of their cousins.
An emergency call for a water rescue was made at approximately 8:10 p.m. Officers, along with emergency responders from the department’s aviation, harbour, and scuba units, arrived on the scene to search for the teens.
Divers eventually pulled the sisters from the water about an hour later, police said.
Both young women were transported to NYC Health and Hospitals/Coney Island, where they were pronounced dead.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The funeral service for Aisha and Zainab Mohammed took place at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9, at the Yankasa Masjid Mosque.
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