Man, 23, Drowns At Monmouth County Beach

SPRING LAKE, NJ — An Essex County man died Saturday after he was pulled from the surf in Spring Lake, police said.

The 23-year-old from Belleville was found floating face down when authorities were called to the beach at St. Clair Avenue at 2:05 p.m., Spring Lake police said.

His name was being withheld pending notification of family members.

The first officers who arrived pulled him out to initiate life-saving measures, police said, and he was treated by EMTs and paramedics then taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Spring Lake police received assistanct from multiple agencies, including the Spring Lake Heights, Belmar and Sea Girt Police pepartments, the Spring Lake First Aid Squad, Spring Lake Fire Department, and the SMART Team (off-duty lifeguards).

Lifeguards do not go on duty in any Jersey Shore beach town until Memorial Day weekend, and most towns will not have beaches guarded daily until mid-June.

"Please do not swim in the ocean until the water is guarded," Spring Lake police said. "Rip currents and dangerous conditions are always a possibility and the conditions change daily."