Overview
- A Wildwood police officer was flagged down about swimmers in distress and entered the water to help three people to safety, while a 14-year-old swimmer remained unlocated.
- Rescue teams from Wildwood and North Wildwood fire departments, local beach patrols, the U.S. Coast Guard and New Jersey State Police deployed rescue swimmers, rescue boards, boats and helicopters to search the surf.
- One rescued swimmer was taken to Cooper University Cape Regional Hospital in stable condition and two others were treated at the scene.
- Officials paused beachside rescue operations after about two hours and continued broader marine and aviation searches into the evening when the teen was not found.
- Recent similar early-season incidents and limited lifeguard coverage at some Jersey Shore beaches have renewed calls for more off-season safety resources and rescue staffing.