Long Branch Man Identified As Swimmer Found In NJ Reservoir

MIDDLETOWN, NJ - The swimmer whose body was recovered Sunday at a swimming reservoir in a Monmouth County park has been identified as Jose M. Urbina Contreras, 24, of Long Branch, authorities said.

Urbina Contreras’ body was found at around 11:02 a.m. Sunday in the Swimming River Reservoir at Thompson Park Point within Thompson Park in the Lincroft section of Middletown, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said in a statement.

He was reported missing at around 6:26 p.m. Saturday after he and a group of friends walked through a trail in the park to reach the Swimming River reservoir, located along the border of the park and Brookdale Community College.

At the scene, police officers were able to find Urbina Contreras’ entry point to the water and direct additional resources to assist with the rescue, including the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Holmdel Police, New Jersey State Police, Middletown Twp. Fire Department, Monmouth County Park System, and Monmouth County and Middletown Office of Emergency Management.

On Sunday morning, divers from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Maritime Emergency Response Team (MERT) found the victim submerged in approximately 20 feet of water about 50 feet from the water’s edge, Middletown police said.

“We remind the public to avoid swimming in areas that are either unknown or unguarded,” police added.