Belmar lifeguards rescue 11 caught in rip current

Belmar lifeguards rescue 11 caught in rip current
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 06/13/07
BY ERIK LARSEN
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU


BELMAR — Carrie Rider, an off-duty borough lifeguard, was on the 16th Avenue beach Monday when she spotted three swimmers near the jetty who were getting in over their heads.

That was the first sign of trouble, and it quickly escalated. In all, 14 lifeguards were involved in the rescue of 11 people from a rip current that developed because of a gap in the jetty and northeast winds.

"Definitely, we would have had multiple drownings" had guards not been in the vicinity, said one rescuer, longtime lifeguard Tim O'Donnell..

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