Secaucus Man Is Family Friend Of Girl, 13, Who Drowned In Belmar: Report

SECAUCUS, NJ — A Secaucus man knows the family of the 13-year-old girl who drowned in Belmar last Friday evening, according to a new report.

The girl who died was identified as Sameeha Sultana, and she drowned Aug. 15 after she and her younger sister, age 12, became caught in a rip current off a beach in Belmar.

The two sisters started screaming for help at about 6:30 p.m. Friday, and Belmar Police said they received the first of multiple 911 calls at 6:36 p.m. Lifeguards had gone off duty at 6 p.m.

A bystander, identified as Thomas Walsh, a retired Monmouth County corrections officer who lives in Freehold, was able to jump into the water and rescue the 12-year-old, pulling her to the jetty. But her older sister could not be saved in time.

The two sisters live in Jersey City with their family.

The two sisters were in Belmar that evening as part of a field trip with a group called Young Muslims, a national Islamic youth organization, the Asbury Park Press reports (the story was picked up by Yahoo News).

Ramazan Zuberi, 54, who lives in Seacaucus, was identified in their report as a friend of the family.

He said the girls, along with other kids in the youth group, should not have been allowed into the ocean when lifeguards had already gone off duty for the day. He also said the oldest person supervising the Young Muslims trip to Belmar was an 18-year-old counselor, which he called “poor judgment."

There should have been more adult supervisors on the trip, Zuberi told the Asbury Park Press. Zuberi said the girl was buried this past Sunday.

Sameeha was found responsive in the water about an hour later, at 7:30 p.m. Lifeguards and paramedics tried to save her life on the beach, but she was pronounced dead at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

The Young Muslims organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Asbury Park Press.

"We are saddened to announce the passing of our sister Sameeha Sultana, a remarkable sister in the YM Jersey City and wider community," said the Young Muslim group in an online fundraiser for the family. "She was known for being extremely involved in helping whenever and whoever she could."

Sameeha's grieving family told NJ.com Thursday that both girls had begged to go on the trip, even though their mom hesitated because they weren't experienced swimmers.

An Islamic Center in Jersey City posted about Sameeha's death last Saturday, saying services would be held the next day.

Related: Jersey City Girl Who Drowned On First Shore Trip Remembered As 'Helping Whoever She Could'