One person dies as several rescued from drowning in Brick, Toms River on Saturday
There were warnings from the start this morning and they continued through the afternoon in Toms River and Brick and even from the Ocean County Sheriff's Office who sent an alert early Saturday that read "Swim Advisory: Do not swim where there are no lifeguards present - High Rip Tide for along the Ocean".
Brick Police also sent an alert around the same time that read: "Avoid swimming in any of the Brick Beaches due to rip current and rough surf."
Several water rescues were made Saturday in the Toms River and Brick areas alone for drowning incidents and while all made it to shore, one victim tragically passed away a short time later.
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Brick Police said in a statement that a 54-year old man was pronounced dead shortly after 2:30 pm at Ocean Medical Center in Brick.
Prior to that, police received a call around 12:32 pm about a swimmer in distress in the ocean off of Brick Beach I.
Two surfers saw the man struggling and made efforts to rescue him, only able to get his head out of the water but were not able to get him to shore.
Brick Police along with the Breton Woods, Pioneer Hose and Laurelton Fire Companies responded to the scene and then the Coast Guard was called to pull the man out of the water.
He was then brought to the Coast Guard Station in Point Pleasant Beach.
Point Pleasant Beach EMS met the Coast Guard at the station as CPR and life saving measures were performed on the man who later passed away.
Brick Police Detective Thomas Cooney is investigating this case.
In Toms River, several rescues were made as well on Saturday.
Toms River Police said that a swimmer entered the water near 2nd Avenue and Ocean Terrace in Normandy Beach and got caught in a rip current and the struggle ensued for him to keep his head above water.
Police and EMS were dispatched around 11:20 am and while they were responding Joseph Gates of Hopatcong ran into the water with his surfboard and was able to keep the man's head above water.
Thomas Galbraith of Warren and Colin Cronin of Lavalette, both surfers as well, then entered the water with their surfboards and were able to assist Gates and the victim back to shore.
In this rescue, Toms River Police said that there were no injuries and no-one required medical assistance.
Around 12:30 pm, Toms River Police and EMS were dispatched to 8th Avenue and Ocean Avenue in Ortley Beach where multiple swimmers were in distress.
A 22-year old woman from New Fairfield, CT was the first swimmer to be pulled out of the ocean by her friends.
She was treated by EMS and transported to Community Medical Center by a Toms River Ambulance.
As of Saturday night, she is stable and expected to make a full recovery.
A 29-year old man from Freehold was the next victim to be pulled out of the ocean, around the same time, also by his friends.
He was conscious and treated by EMS as he was transported to Community Medical Center with medics on board and Toms River Police said that he is listed in stable condition.
The third victim, a 27-year old woman from Brookfield, CT, went under water multiple times and appeared to not be moving.
It was at this point that Toms River Police said a rescue wave runner from Seaside Heights Fire Department was able to rescue her and bring her to shore and at that time she didn't have a pulse.
The firefighters then performed CPR as they brought her to the beach.
Once on the beach, EMS and medics continued CPR and were able to regain a pulse prior to her being transported to Community Medical Center.
As of Saturday night, she is listed in critical condition.
Toms River Police cleared the township's ocean waters Saturday afternoon of all swimmers due to the dangerous water conditions.