Four swimmers have drowned and three are missing after two days of treacherous currents around New York City and neighbouring Long Island in the United States.

The missing include a 10-year-old girl who had been playing in the waters off Coney Island, a popular beach resort in the Big Apple.

In Long Beach, a tourist destination in Long Island, a swimmer died after he was spotted struggling over 100 metres from the shore.

Another man drowned at the same beach the day before while playing ball games in shallow water. A teenager who was playing with him is still missing.

Also on Long Island, 42-year-old man died after swimming at a beach in East Quogue. A fourth swimmer drowned at Sandy Bar Beach on Long Island's East End.

Another missing person is a 23-year-old man who was swept away off Jacob Riis Beach in Queens, a borough of New York City.

The Coast Guard has called off his search after spending 23 hours scouring the surrounding area. A friend who tried to save had to be rescued by firefighters.

Authorities have said the spate of swimmers being swept away is unprecedented.

Lond Island Police spokesman Bruce Meyer said he "cannot recall there ever being back-to-back situations like this."

A US National Weather Service meteorologist, Jim Connolly, has said the rough seas were due to a strong storm system that brought eight-foot waves to the area.


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