Man Drowns In Rough Surf On Unguarded Seaside Heights Beach

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ - A 44-year-old New Brunswick man drowned on an unguarded Seaside Heights beach early Saturday evening despite efforts to save him, Seaside Detective Steven Korman said.

Police responded to a 911 call from someone who saw the man get slammed by a wave at 7:15 pm. Three police officers who went into the water at the Fremont Avenue beach to save him reported a strong rip current at the location, Korman said.

The man was lying face down in the surf about 30 yards offshore. Seaside Heights and members of the Seaside Park water rescue units pulled the victim from the water. Tri-Boro First Aid squad members immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but the unidentified man was pronounced dead at the scene, Korman said.

"The victim's wife and young son watched first responders from the beach during the incident," he said.

The National Weather Service had issued a high rip current risk on Saturday, along with waves of 4 to 6 feet. The drowning came after a week of ominous warnings from the weather service of "life-threatening" rip currents and very rough surf.

The Long Beach Township police department issued a Nixle alert on Saturday warning people that no swimming was allowed due to dangerous water conditions.

Seaside Heights beaches are guarded from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but only on weekends until Sept. 30.

This is a breaking news story. Patch will update when more information is available.

Photo: by Ocean County Scanner News, published with permission