Teen Missing After Swimming Off New Jersey Coast

A 14-year-old boy, described by his family as a “happy kid,” vanished while swimming during a school trip along the New Jersey coast, just two days ahead of his graduation.

Davoris Carter went missing after entering the water in Wildwood on Monday afternoon. His swimming trunks were found on the beach by his mother, according to reports.

The reason behind Carter’s swim remains unclear. His grandmother, Kenya Pippen, mentioned he was at the beach with family members who had gone to get food.

Pippen noted that four other kids were swimming toward the flag but expressed concern that “not a single employee entered the water with the children.” She alleged that there were no lifeguards present, which was especially worrying since some of the kids had special needs.

“Even though there were no lifeguards at all, they still allowed special needs children to enter the water without an adult,” she commented, adding that Carter was fully clothed when he entered the water.

Emergency responders arrived shortly after 1:35 p.m. upon reports of a swimmer in distress. Wildwood Fire Department Chief Ernie Troiano stated that firefighters had just arrived on the scene, and one officer managed to assist three swimmers to safety. These individuals included two boys and a 19-year-old who later required hospitalization.

Rescue efforts faced challenges due to strong currents. Troiano explained, “When we went there, the water was flowing pretty heavily from north to south, so our rescue efforts focused on that.”

The U.S. Coast Guard extended their search to about 500 yards of water near Morey’s Pier, employing helicopters and drones in the effort.

Meanwhile, police utilized an ATV to search the coastline for the boy. Pippen remembered Davoris as a “wonderful” and “happy child.” “He’s just a kid. He was supposed to graduate on Wednesday,” she reflected.