POINT PLEASANT BEACH: On Tuesday 9/12/23 at 1559hrs, Officers were dispatched to New York Ave. beach for a report of a 40 year old male in the ocean, stuck in the riptide. Officers arrived on scene and observed the male in the ocean, with his head above water, drifting north. Officers went into the water in the area in the Forman Ave. and were able to get the male out of the water. The Point Pleasant First Aid and Dive Team were dispatched. The US Coast Guard was also dispatched and responded to the scene was well. The 40 year old male was uninjured and refused any and all First Aid. This is the second incident in the last 10 days where officers had to enter the ocean and pull swimmers in distress out of the surf.

Mayor Paul Kanitra released the following statement. “

“I have just been informed that as an apparent result of a drowning in the off-season, and a subsequent lawsuit, Jenkinsons has made the very unfortunate decision to close all of their beaches and all of their access points.

Please understand that Jenkinsons is a private company that owns the majority of beaches and beach access points in Point Pleasant Beach. I want to make it very clear that this decision is not the Borough of Point Pleasant Beach’s and that the only beach that the town owns, Maryland Avenue, is open for guests in accordance with our local beach ordinances.

Please direct any questions directly to Jenkinsons on this matter at 732-892-0600. In the absence of an acceptable response from Jenkinsons, please note that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has the primary responsibility for ensuring your access to the beach. Their phone is: 609-777-3373”

The laws on beach access, and public water laws can be found here.

https://www.nj.gov/dep/cmp/access/njparightslegal.htm?fbclid=IwAR2I–mVEQ-HdYlmzv8FDhW2UdA7dhoLotVcIt20q2Oah1268AjO7l8O8Q4_aem_AZ8bWS7k6he4lQWwxYRUGFfAns8Lv7HeF2Vo9Pyh22DnkBUmwC45ahVKPy914LnScnk#:~:text=Perpendicular%20access%20refers%20to%20the,owned%20(see%20Figure%204)