Drowning along New Jersey Shore claims life of man, 22; swimmers warned of rip currents

Amanda Oglesby, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read
John Porter, an employee of Seaside Park Public Works, hangs warning signs at the entrance to the 13th Avenue beach. Large surf has put people at risk over the last few days. Lifeguards have made numerous saves and one swimmer is lost at sea. Seaside Park, NJ September 5, 2023
John Porter, an employee of Seaside Park Public Works, hangs warning signs at the entrance to the 13th Avenue beach. Large surf has put people at risk over the last few days. Lifeguards have made numerous saves and one swimmer is lost at sea. Seaside Park, NJ September 5, 2023

BEACH HAVEN — A 22-year-old man died Sunday after he and two other swimmers were caught in a rip current at the 5th Street beach in Beach Haven, borough police and beach patrol officials said.

Edwin Antonio Made Sanchez of the Dominican Republic was swimming before 3 p.m. when he became trapped in the rip current, Beach Haven Beach Patrol officials said in a statement shared by borough police.

Two lifeguards stationed at the 5th Street beach started a human chain to try and rescue the three swimmers, according to the borough's Beach Patrol. Two swimmers were successfully pulled safely to shore, but Made Sanchez went under the water and could not be found, officials said.

Additional lifeguards from across Beach Haven responded to the 5th Street beach, where 15 lifeguards and additional veteran lifeguards extended the human chain into the ocean to search for the man, according to Beach Patrol personnel. Five other lifeguards began a grid search of the water using paddleboards and a Jet Ski, authorities said.

Beach Haven Police, Beach Haven Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard and New Jersey State Police also responded to the scene.

Made Sanchez was located and pulled from the water, but pronounced dead at 5:18 p.m., authorities said.

Rip currents in recent days resulted in a number of rescues at the Jersey Shore. In Seaside Park and Belmar, lifeguards and police pulled more than a dozen swimmers to shore over the weekend. In Harvey Cedars, a surfer helped to rescue swimmers who became trapped in rough waves.

On Monday, authorities continued to search for a man who went missing while swimming off Seaside Park.

On Tuesday, Harvey Cedars Police warned swimmers of a high risk of rip currents and to swim near lifeguards.

Dangerous waters: One reported dead, another missing as rip currents spur rescues up and down Jersey Shore

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 15 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Beach Haven New Jersey drowning due to high risk of rip currents