STORM WATCH

Winds pick up as frigid air arrives in New Jersey this weekend.

Swimmer saved in dramatic rescue from dangerous swells off Seaside Park

Drone footage captured the moment a swimmer was pulled to safety by surfers and a bystander with fins after getting caught in a rip current around 2:30 p.m.

Matt Trapani and Jim Murdoch

Oct 7, 2024, 4:44 PM

Updated 74 days ago

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A dramatic rescue was caught on video Sunday afternoon in Seaside Park.
A man swimming in the ocean started to struggle in the water due to rough surf caused by Hurricane Kirk. It happened Sunday around 2:30 p.m. A surfer and another swimmer were able to pull the man out of the water.
News 12 also spoke to another surfer and summer lifeguard who helped rescue a 12-year-old boy on Friday.
“He was getting pulled out and I went out grabbed him, pulled him into the shore so it could have been a lot worse,” says Markio Colitti.
Seaside Park officials say there have been a number of rescues lately due to the warmer weather and lack of lifeguards.
“We've been running very busy all the way from our northern communities to Island Beach State Park,” says Seaside Park Fire Chief Dennis Vincent.
Officials say that people are welcome to come down to the beach to enjoy the nicer weather, but they are advised to stay out of the water.