The body of 16-year-old Aaron Holmes was found this morning by members of the V.I. Police Department’s Blue Lightning rescue team, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Holmes, a student at St. Joseph High School, was swimming with his family at Carambola Friday when he was caught in a rip current and carried out to sea. A helicopter and boat search swept the area from about 6 p.m. to almost 10:30 p.m. without finding him. According to Ricardo Castrodad, public information officer of the Seventh Coast Guard District in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the search resumed Saturday at first light.

Castrodad said the Blue Lightning personnel found the boy’s body washed ashore near Carambola before 8 a.m.

The heavy waves and rip currents that have pounded the northern coast of the islands in the region are a result of the passage of Hurricane Igor. Though the storm passed more than 500 miles to the northeast, sparing the islands the hurricane force winds and heavy rain, it created a system of large, long-period swells that have caused waves of 20 feet or more to hit the Lesser Antilles.

Because the skies are relatively clear, the winds mild and the temperatures warm, people are tempted to go out and swim in the heavy surf, according to Castrodad. But they should exercise caution, he said.

“Go to the beach and enjoy the weather but stay out of the water. It might look like great weather, but it’s very dangerous.”

His warning was echoed by Cost Guard Capt. Eduardo Pino, Sector San Juan commander.

“Swimmers and boaters should take this weather system seriously and avoid the ocean until surf conditions normalize,” he said.

At 4:46 a.m. Saturday the National Weather Service updated its coastal hazard message for the area, warning that the high surf is likely to continue through at least late Saturday night. The data from weather buoys indicates the swells peaked early Saturday morning, but dangerous conditions will continue, slowly subsiding through the rest of the weekend.