2 Swimmers Die, 1 Missing, Dozens Rescued On NJ Beaches Over Weekend

JERSEY SHORE, NJ ? Two swimmers died and a third remained missing on Tuesday after a Labor Day weekend that strained beach patrols as lifeguards made dozens of rescues up and down the Jersey Shore.

In Beach Haven, a 22-year-old man from the Dominican Republic drowned on Sunday afternoon, authorities said. In Belmar, a 42-year-old man was pronounced dead at the hospital after he was pulled from the surf Sunday evening, ABC7 reported.

Another man remained missing after disappearing in the water off Seaside Park on Sunday, police said.

The rescues continued Monday; in Cape May County, a swimmer was taken to the hospital after being pulled from the water unresponsive in Upper Township. Read more: Missing Swimmer Pulled From Surf In Cape May County, Hospitalized

Rip currents whipped up by Hurricane Franklin created dangerous conditions all weekend, and most beaches were allowing people to go in no more than knee-deep during the day. That did not prevent problems, and there were multiple reports of lifeguards assisting people back to shore.

The more serious problems arose, however, when people decided to swim after lifeguards had left the beach for the day. Multiple rescues up and down the coast were reported both Sunday and Monday evenings, according to radio scanner reports.

That was the situation in Belmar, when eight people got caught in a rip current off the 6th Avenue beach shortly after 6 p.m., when lifeguards had left the beach for the day. At least three people were taken to the hospital, including the man who died.

Several swimmers were rescued from the water at the Stockton Avenue beach in Seaside Park after lifeguards had left for the day. The missing man was among a group of people who were swimming after hours.

The after-hours rescues prompted authorities up and down the Jersey Shore to plead with people to stay out of the water at unguarded beaches.

"This is a screen shot from an SHFD volunteer's Active Alert app," Seaside Heights officials said in a post on Facebook. "The past 24 hours. Seven after-hours ocean water rescue calls. One special assignment related to the search for a missing and presumed drowned swimmer out of Seaside Park's beach last night."

"With sunshine and temps in the 80s being forecast during the week and no lifeguards protecting most beaches up and down the NJ coast, STAY OUT OF THE WATER," the post said. "Otherwise, you risk death. It's that simple. STAY OUT and you guarantee that the ocean and dangerous rip tides will not kill you. Can we be any clearer?"

"If lifeguards are not on duty stay out of the ocean. If you see a red flag stay out of the ocean. If you see a locked gate to a dune crossover or other ocean access do not hop the gate and enter the ocean," the post said.

"And one last thing ? your stupid decision to enter the ocean will put our volunteer and career public safety officers in harm's way. That's plain wrong," the post said.

With the hot weather, authorities are anticipating people will flock to the beaches after school all week to get relief, and they are urging people to stay out of the water because of the dangers of rip currents that are expected to continue for a few days yet. Most New Jersey beaches are not staffed with lifeguards after Labor Day, and only a few, including Seaside Heights, are staffed on weekends in September.

In Seaside Park, Mayor John Peterson and the Borough Council urged people to stay out of the water as lifeguards will no longer be on duty there starting Tuesday.

"Please do not swim when beaches are unguarded," they said, and thanked first responders in the borough and in Seaside Heights, along with good Samaritans who helped rescue people.

Point Pleasant Beach police also were urging people to stay out of the water.

"Rip currents can be dangerous even for skilled swimmers whose instinct when caught being pulled by a current is often to try to swim back towards the shore, increasing the chances of drowning," the police department said. "Swimmers are reminded that it is not safe to swim in areas with no lifeguards. Strong rip currents are expected to continue, so please be safe and do not swim in unguarded areas."