Sonar boat joins search for Philadelphia boy feared drowned at Atlantic City

Breaking News Desk

Posted: June 12, 2012

A search is still under way for a 10-year-old Philadelphia boy who disappeared Sunday evening while swimming in the ocean at Atlantic City.

Officials have now classified the mission as a recovery operation, instead of a rescue.

Two state police boats, one with a tow-able side scan sonar unit, are involved with the search along with other agencies.

The Coast Guard said its boats looked all night for the boy, identified as Khitan Devine, after a close-in search of the surf was called off because of darkness late Sunday.

The boy was swimming with family members about 7 p.m. and went underwater near a jetty, but did not resurface, officials said. The family reported him missing, and the beach was cleared for the search, which involved boats, a helicopter and rescue teams walking into the water.

State Police said today the boy's sister, whose age was not given, was rescued from the jetty by the Atlantic City Beach Patrol.

Rosemary Brown, Devine's stepmother, told the Press of Atlantic City that a strong current swept the family toward the jetty.

"The current was so strong. All we seen was him pulled toward the jetty, and he went under," Brown told the newspaper. "We was all in it."

Lifeguards were not on duty at the time.