An immigrant welder who drowned off of Rockaway Beach during a late-night swim was a former lifeguard who told his mother he wanted to go lie on the beach and look at the stars, the Daily News has learned.

Jimmy Rambally, 37, was a strong swimmer, the only one in his family who felt comfortable in the water, his brother said. Going out on a fishing trip wasn’t enough for him. Once the boat was in the water, he had to get out and splash around.

“Besides being a great swimmer, he loved Rockaway Beach,” said Gayaren Rambally, 42. “He went there regularly. I’m pretty sure he knew about the currents and things. It’s not as if it’s the first time he’s been to this beach. He was a regular there. He would bodysurf on the waves.”

But even Rambally’s swimming skills weren’t enough to save him a

See Full Page