2 Swimmers Caught In Rip Current After Hours At Jersey Shore, Police Say

BERKELEY, NJ — One person was rescued Thursday evening after getting caught in a rip current in Berkeley Township, police said.

Berkeley police said a caller reported two swimmers in distress about 6:40 p.m. in the ocean at 23rd Avenue in the South Seaside Park section.

One of the swimmers was able to get back to shore by the time rescuers arrived, but the second was brought back to shore by Seaside Park Fire Rescue members, police said.

Both were adults and refused medical treatment from Tri-Boro First Aid, which also responded.

The incident happened after lifeguards had gone home for the day.

"Please don't swim when there's no lifeguards there," Berkeley Mayor John Bacchione said Friday. He said there have been storms offshore that have created strong rip currents for several days, and with Tropical Storm Erin moving up the coast that potential is expected to continue.

"I swam competitively in high school, and I was a lifeguard," Bacchione said. "When those tides get you it doesn't matter how strong you think you are."

He said he understands that people want to go in the water.

"Just be ultra careful. Don't go in all the way," he said.

"Berkeley Township Police would like to remind our residents and visitors to only swim in areas with lifeguards on duty," the police department said. "Rip currents can be unpredictable and even the strongest of swimmers can fall victim to them."

The incident comes just days after a 31-year-old Trenton man drowned and several other swimmers were rescued in Seaside Heights after they got caught in rip currents on Monday evening.

Seaside Heights Mayor Anthony Vaz said the borough will be closing beaches immediately after the lifeguards' shifts end for the day when the surf is dangerous to try to prevent people from swimming after hours and prevent more drownings.

Note: This article has been updated with comment from Mayor John Bacchione. It also has been updated to correct that Seaside Park Fire Rescue responded and rescued the second swimmer. Patch regrets the error.