Officials: Father dies rescuing daughter caught in rip current at Avon-by-the-Sea beach
A father in his late-30s died Friday while trying to save his daughter at Avon Beach, according to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.
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A man in his late-30s died Friday in Avon-by-the-Sea while trying to rescue his teenage daughter at Avon Beach, according to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials say the daughter got swept out by a jetty. News 12 was told the daughter is OK.
Law enforcement officials say the daughter went for a swim by the jetty around 8:30 a.m. and got caught in a rip current. She was pulled several yards out into the ocean. Her father then jumped in and tried to save her. No lifeguards were on duty.
Authorities say rescue crews arrived on scene and were able to pull the girl out, but there was no sign of her dad. Additional guards, Jet Ski crews and helicopters helped in the search. By the time they found the man, it was too late.
Bob Zielinski watched the incident unfold at the beach as he was on the boardwalk. He says it’s a tragedy when someone goes and rescues a family member but can't make it out.
“It's terrible. I just don't understand why people would consider going out in the water when there's no lifeguards on duty. And it's deceptive because it looks so calm, but you don't see the undertow. That's really what's getting people in trouble,” Zielinski said.
Many beaches don’t fully staff guards until next weekend.
