Dangerous Rip Currents at the Jersey Shore Cause Many Water Rescues and One Death Yesterday
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September 19, 2021Dangerous Rip Currents at the Jersey Shore Cause Many Water Rescues and One Death Yesterday
No Lifeguards No Swimming
The National Weather Service issued a warning earlier this week, stating that the chance of life-threatening rip currents was high on Saturday due to Tropical Storm Odette. On Saturday, due to the high humidity and warm temperatures, many people chose to cool down even though lifeguards were not present causing many rescues according to the Toms River Police Department and Ocean County Sheriff's Office.
At around 11:20 a.m. on Saturday, September 18, 2021, police and EMS were alerted to 2nd Avenue and Ocean Terrace in Normandy Beach for a swimmer in trouble.
A male was caught in a rip current and trying to keep his head above water, according to witnesses. With his surfboard, Hopatcong resident Joseph Gates was able to keep the sufferer above water. Two more surfers, Warren's Thomas Galbraith and Lavalette's Colin Cronin, entered the sea with their surfboards and helped Mr. Gates and the victim back to land. There were no injuries, and none of the people engaged needed medical help.At around 12:30 p.m., police and EMS were summoned to Ortley Beach's 8th Avenue and Ocean Avenue for many swimmers in trouble. A 22-year-old female from New Fairfield, Connecticut, was the first swimmer to be taken from the water by friends, and she was treated by EMS before being brought to Community Medical Center by a Toms River Ambulance. She is currently stable and anticipated to make a complete recovery.
The next victim was a 29-year-old man from Freehold, who was likewise rescued from the ocean by friends. As he was transported to Community Medical Center with medics on board, he was conscious and receiving treatment from EMS. He is said to be in good health.
The third victim, a 27-year-old woman from Brookfield, Connecticut, had been submerged several times and looked to be motionless. She was rescued and brought to land by a rescue wave runner from the Seaside Heights Fire Department.
While bringing her to the beach, the wave runner firefighters administered CPR. EMS and medics continued CPR on the beach and were able to re-establish her pulse before transporting her to Community Medical Center. She is currently listed in critical condition.In nearby, Brick Township, A 54-year-old male was declared dead soon after 2:30 p.m. at Ocean Medical Center in Brick, according to Brick Police. Earlier, about 12:32 p.m., police received a complaint regarding a swimmer in trouble in the ocean off of Brick Beach I.
Two surfers noticed the man struggling and attempted to help him, but were only able to bring his head out of the water and not get him to land. The Breton Woods, Pioneer Hose, and Laurelton Fire Companies all went to the site, and the Coast Guard was asked to help extract the man from the water. He was then taken to the Point Pleasant Beach Coast Guard Station. Point Pleasant Beach EMS and the Coast Guard met at the station to administer CPR and other life-saving procedures on the guy, who subsequently died.
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