AVON BY THE SEA: At 8:38AM today (Friday), the ANSWER Team responded to Sylvania Ave Beach in Avon-by-the-Sea for two reported swimmers in distress. Upon arrival, a female juvenile was quickly rescued and later transported to JSUMC for evaluation while the search continued for a male adult. The search continued for over an hour as rescue swimmers, divers, jet skis, boats, and a drone searched the area for the missing swimmer. Just before 10:00AM, a US Coast Guard helicopter identified a possible location, at which time rescue swimmers located the missing swimmer and removed him from the water. He was treated on scene by EMS and transported to JSUMC, but tragically did not survive the incident. Our deepest condolences go out to the family of the victim during this difficult time.

The ANSWER response included rescue swimmers, divers, boats, jet skis, EMS, PD, and drone operators from Neptune Township, Neptune City, Avon, and Bradley Beach. The response also included a multitude of mutual aid partners from surrounding towns including the SMART Team, lifeguards from Belmar and Sea Girt, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police, and the US Coast Guard, and we greatly appreciate their assistance. We’d also like to thank those witnesses who quickly reported seeing the swimmers in distress and remained on the scene to provide invaluable information to responders. Any further questions regarding the incident should be directed to Avon-by-the-Sea Police Department, which is investigating the incident.