Photo: Hannah Beier/Getty Images
Authorities reported that One person was killed and more than a dozen swimmers were rescued from beaches on the New Jersey shoreline Sunday.following warnings of dangerous rip currents over Labor Day weekend.
The National Meteorological Service warned since last Tuesday about the risk of dangerous rip currents developing on beaches in New Jersey and Delawarean alert that remains in effect until Monday night.
Three people were caught in a rip current while they were swimming at Beach Haven on Sunday afternoonaccording to a statement from the Beach Haven Police Department.
Two of them were brought safely to shore, while a 22-year-old man was pronounced dead.according to the police.
For the intense rescue, about 15 rescuers formed a chain and began a systematic search for the only victim who had been submerged, and at the same time, five other rescuers began a deep-water search using paddle boards and a personal watercraft.
Additional support from state and local authorities helped locate the man who was pronounced dead, according to the police department.
A few hours later, five people who were swimming after lifeguards were found off duty were rescued from rip currents at Seaside Park. This was reported by Andrew Casole, spokesman for the Seaside Park Police Department.
A 31-year-old man, who was swimming separately from the group, is missing and search efforts are underway, Casole said.
At Belmar Beach, five other swimmers were rescued late in the afternoon.according to a statement from the Belmar Police Department.
“The tide came in and that’s when they were washed away,” Chizzy Meremikwu, a witness to the incident, told CNN affiliate WABC.
“They were behind shouting: ‘Help, help!’ That’s when everyone ran off the beach, calling lifeguards,” he said.
A swimmer did not respond and was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, according to Belmar police.
Two of the rescued swimmers were also taken to a local hospital, according to the statement.
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