Currents kill swimmer on Jersey shore as lifeguards rescue others

For some Jersey Shore swimmers, the final weekend of the summer season was a treacherous one. Two swimmers died and at least one other was missing after strong ocean currents created dangerous bathing conditions in several New Jersey beach towns on Monday.

A 22-year-old man died in Beach Haven, Long Beach Island after being swept away by a strong current, while another man died after drowning, according to sources in Belmar, New Jersey several news reports. In Seaside Heights, another swimmer was reportedly missing and five others had to be rescued after battling the surf during the notoriously busy end-of-season holidays.

In Belmar reportedly lifeguards formed a human chain to rescue Schwimmer and eventually recover the body of the man who drowned there just after 6 p.m. Monday. Meanwhile, the US Coast Guard and other agencies were busy conducting a similar rescue mission in Seaside Heights around 6:30 p.m., eventually rescuing five distressed swimmers from the water. A swimmer was still missing in Seaside Heights as of Tuesday morning.

The National Weather Service issued a notice about dangerous currents on beaches in Delaware and New Jersey, warns that “giants can push even the best swimmers off shore into deeper waters,” and urges beachgoers to swim near a lifeguard. The Rip Current Advisory remains in effect through Tuesday evening.

Rip currents are strong, narrow water currents that can occur in the ocean near shore where the waves are breaking. The currents can often take unsuspecting swimmers by surprise further into deeper water. The National Weather Service encourages people Avoid swimming on beaches when lifeguards are not on duty.