Girl, 10, lost in Coney Island waters

Updated Sunday, July 27th 2008, 12:37 AM

Fevelo for News

Lifeguards searched the waterline along Coney Island shore to find 10-year-old Akira Johnson.

Fevelo for News

Lifeguards were able to pull Akira's cousin, Tyriek, also 10, out of the ocean.

Daily News

A map of the drownings that have struck the city recently.

A 10-year-old girl was lost in the choppy waters off Coney Island Saturday even as her young cousin narrowly escaped the same tragic fate, authorities said.

The girl was one of seven presumed drownings in rough surf at beaches across the city and Long Island in the past two days.

Akira Johnson and her cousin Tyriek, also 10, were swimming about 5:30 p.m. Saturday when they were pulled under by the currents. Lifeguards responded, but were able to rescue only the boy, who did not suffer any serious injuries.

"She's 10 years old. She's a bright child," teary-eyed Charles German said of his granddaughter, a student at Public School 188 in Bayside, Queens. "I can hardly think of anything to say. I'm praying."

Relatives of the children held a beachside vigil off W. 23rd St. as NYPD, FDNY and Coast Guard units combed the Atlantic Ocean with boats and helicopters for the little girl.

"I saw the little girl's hand go up once, then it went down, and then she disappeared," said sobbing Mark Vega of Coney Island, who was on the beach when lifeguards raced into the ocean in search of the children.

In Long Beach, L.I., a 29-year-old Wantagh man died after he was spotted struggling about 150 feet from shore about 7 p.m. Saturday, police said. Off-duty lifeguards rushed to the beach and reached the victim within minutes, but he was unconscious and rescuers were unable to revive him, Police Lt. Bruce Meyer said.