Nearly a year after two Brooklyn teens drowned in the waves off Jacob Riis Park, Mayor Eric Adams named a new swim class in their honor.
The “Elyjha Chandler and Christian Perkins Swim for Life” class will be held at Erasmus High School in Flatbush. The designation is part of a $5.5 million investment in free swim lessons for New York City children across the five boroughs. The mayor has emphasized that the expanded slate of classes will be available to nearly 18,000 second graders.
Chandler and Perkins were among the seven New Yorkers who drowned last summer — the highest number since 2019. Neither knew how to swim, and in the months since their deaths, local leaders and advocates have called for increased access to swim instruction. The new classes, held at eight schools across the city, will begin in the fall.
“It’s a stepping stone to change,” said Chandler’s mom, Aminatu Noah, who spoke through tears. “This is not the end, this is just the beginning. This is proof that anything you put your mind to can happen, and you just gotta keep advocating for the right things for our children.”
Like two teenage sisters who drowned off Coney Island, Chandler and Perkins entered the ocean while there were no lifeguards on duty. Efforts to bolster beach coverage have been stymied by the city’s perennial lifeguard shortage. Meanwhile, Adams announced last week that the city is rolling out flying, talking drones that could help rescue drowning swimmers.
Noah raised the issue of swim education to Adams at a town hall last month.
Announcing the naming on Thursday, Adams commended the “extraordinary” teenagers.
"Every time a child learns how to swim, they’re going to be doing it in their spirit," he said.
Perkins’ mother Kibret Perkins said it was important to her to bring about something positive from her son’s death.
“Sometimes things happen in our lives — we don’t know where it’s gonna go. But we’re gonna turn pain into purpose, and it’s unlimited," she said.
Due to incorrect information provided by City Hall, this story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of Elyjha Chandler.
