Tragic Beach Incident in Seaside Heights
A day at the beach took a heartbreaking turn when one person died while attempting to rescue a jet ski, although six others were saved. The Seaside Heights Fire Department received a distress call at 6:55 PM ET, reporting several individuals in trouble at Webster Avenue Beach.
According to local fire response teams, six people were caught in rip currents about 100 yards offshore. Unfortunately, there were no lifeguards on duty when the incident occurred.
Rescue swimmers from the Seaside Heights Fire Station deployed on jet skis, quickly bringing the victims back to shore. Dramatic aerial footage shows the rescuers retrieving individuals one by one and placing them onto a raft before taking them back to safety.
Amid this chaos, another person was found in the water and was rushed back to the shore. CPR was performed on the seventh individual, but tragically, they were later pronounced dead at the Community Medical Center.
This incident underscores the danger of rip currents. As reported by the National Weather Service, there have been 49 confirmed deaths related to rip currents this year alone.
Chris Brewster from the US LifeSaving Association noted that many beachgoers aren’t aware of the risks involved with rip currents when they enter the water. They often find themselves further from the beach than they realize, which can lead to panic and exhaustion. Brewster advises those caught in these currents to calm themselves, float to conserve energy, and swim parallel to the shore to escape the current.
Despite the risks, the Seaside Heights Fire Department’s Ocean Rescue team recently saved 12 individuals when lifeguards were on duty, highlighting the importance of vigilance at the beach.
