Warnings At Jersey Shore After Child Rescues, Strong Rip Currents

NEW JERSEY — The National Weather Service and local authorities have issued swimming warnings after several children were rescued from the ocean and strong rip currents are expected this weekend.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook along the entire Jersey Shore, saying people should stay out of the water since many beaches will be unguarded and strong rip currents will create a "bad situation," said Nick Carr, a weather service meteorologist.

Many beaches will not have lifeguards until Memorial Day weekend, although Jenkinson's in Point Pleasant Beach will have protection.

Both Carr and the Atlantic City police — which handled at least four rescues involving children this week — say people should not swim in areas without a lifeguard. Making the situation worse is a tropical system in the Atlantic Ocean that could cause 5-foot swales in Jersey Shore swimming areas, Carr said.

Carr said the cold weather and strong rip currents are currently causing a "moderate risk" for swimming, but that level will rise to high as the tropical system forms into a full-blown storm by midday Saturday. Read more: Hurricane Season's 1st Atlantic Tropical Storm Possibly Forming

Compounding the issue will be the hot weather, which will make people think it's a good beach day, Carr said.

"Saturday afternoon would be the worst time," he said. "Even though it'll be hot on land, the water is still cold, and it's going to be rough."

The Atlantic City Police Department also reminded beachgoers that it is unsafe to swim when lifeguards from the Atlantic City Beach Patrol are not on duty.

"Dangerous rip currents can be powerful and can affect even the most experienced swimmer," police said.

The first Atlantic City rescue happened on Saturday at 5 p.m. when officers responded to the Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard beach for reports of several young juveniles in the ocean in distress.

As officers arrived, all of the children had been rescued from the water. A good Samaritan, Dijon Brooks, entered the ocean and rescued a 4-year-old girl, police said.

The girl was transported to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Division, for evaluation. The other children were evaluated on scene. Two other men also entered the ocean to rescue the children but were not identified.

On Tuesday, two girls — 11 and 9 years old — and an 8-year-old boy from Philadelphia were rescued after they spotted off the Virginia Avenue beach by a good Samaritan, according to the Atlantic City police.

A Philadelphia man and the three children became stuck on an outfall pipe as waves continued to crash, police said. Atlantic City police officers Ramir Hayes and Brian Victoria-Garcia saw that they were injured and rushed in the water to assist.

Victoria-Garcia stayed on the pipe to assist the Pennsylvania man while Hayes put the 11-year-old on his back and carried her to the shore. Hayes returned for the 9-year-old and carried her out of the water.

Chief Steve Downey of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol, lifeguard Brian Cain and firefighter B.J. Hamilton of the Atlantic City Fire Department were off duty doing maintenance work at a nearby lifeguard stand when they responded to the beach and also assisted, police said.

The three children, the three officers and Moore were taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center to be treated for cuts and lacerations sustained from the waves crashing into them.

The Atlantic City Beach Patrol will begin patrolling beaches on May 29 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.