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LONG BRANCH Theres no word yet on whether a body that washed up Saturday in Long Branch is that of a Paterson boy missing for a week.

But authorities are hoping an autopsy being performed this afternoon will help them identify the body, according to Christopher Gramiccioni, the first assistant prosecutor for Monmouth County. He said results may not be available until Monday.

The body may be that of 17-year-old Rudy Mena, a Paterson boy who vanished in the surf off Long Branch late last Sunday. Police believe the boy drowned, likely being pulled out by powerful rip currents.

A 24-year-old Jersey City man drowned off Bradley Beach on Tuesday when he became caught in rip currents, officials said last week. In a separate incident that occurred around the same time, four teenagers from Newark were also caught in the rip currents but made it back to shore. They were sent to a local hospital for observation.

The body found Saturday was pulled from the water by lifeguard near Pier Village, not far from where Mena disappeared, according to a report by the Asbury Park Press.

Related coverage:

Lifeguards find body floating in water near where teen went missing, report says

Search for Paterson teen who disappeared off Long Branch coast to be halted

Teen who disappeared in waters near Long Branch still missing as Coast Guard stops search

Coast Guard suspends its search for missing teen off Long Branch, local dive teams continue scouring

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No word on whether boy who washed up in Long Branch is missing Paterson teen