Cape May To Name Beach In Honor Of 16-Year-Old Lifeguard

CAPE MAY, NJ — A beach in Cape May will be named in honor of a first-year lifeguard who died last week after his patrol boat capsized in rough seas.

Norman Inferrera III, 16, was rowing off Reading Avenue Beach on Thursday when his patrol boat was struck by a wave and flipped over in rough surf, officials said. Inferrera, a high school student from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, was knocked unconscious when he hit his head on the boat, his family said.

He was resuscitated twice and airlifted to Cooper University Medical Center in Camden, where he was in a coma with brain damage and multiple broken bones, his family said.

He died Friday night.

“We received news from the Cape May Beach Patrol today that a beach in Cape May is being named after Norman. The family is deeply moved and became very emotional upon the news,” Kathleen Price, the boy’s aunt, wrote on a GoFundMe page.

As of Monday, the GoFundMe page has raised more than $152,000 for his medical bills from more than 2,400 donors.

The family was also told that Inferrera’s extensive medical bills will be covered by Cape May’s insurance, Price said. The money will now be used to establish scholarships in Inferrera’s name in Cape May and Pennsylvania.

“The scholarships will be issued on an annual basis to the Cape May Beach Patrol ‘Cannone Scholarship Fund’ and Norman’s high school, Phoenixville Area High School,” Price said. “Champ would be so glad to know that he will be helping future college bound students achieve their dreams and goals! I can clearly see his smile now."

Inferrera, known as “Champ” to his family and friends, had recently completed his lifeguard training and started his first year working in Cape May. According to his family, he had been involved in several rescues this summer, including helping pull a 4-year-old child from the water.

Cape May Mayor Zachary Mullock said “no words” could describe the beach patrol’s grief following the loss of Inferrera.

“Even at such a young age, Norman was loved by his fellow lifeguards," Mullock said in a statement. "No words can express the sadness suffered by all of our beach patrol family. Norman chose to protect others. He did so professionally and worked hard at it. That is an extraordinary attribute for anyone, especially at 16 years old."

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