NJ lifeguard impaled by beach umbrella; Where, when, what happened

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A NJ lifeguard was impaled by a beach umbrella Wednesday morning at the Jersey shore, according to police.

Asbury Park officials say the woman was lifeguarding at an Asbury Park beach when the wind took hold of her umbrella while she was setting it up. Here’s what we know.

Lifeguard impaled: What happened? Who was she?

An Asbury Park lifeguard sitting on her stand on the beach near Third Avenue around 9:30 a.m. when a gust of wind knocked her off her lifeguard chair, causing her to fall on top of the umbrella pole, Asbury Park Fire Department Chief Kevin Keddy told ABC7 News. The umbrella went through her upper left shoulder and came out her back, he added.

The woman was reportedly about 19 or 20 years old, ABC reported. Her identity has not yet been released.

Was the woman impaled by umbrella killed? Injured?

The woman was “conscious and alert” throughout the incident and had “very minimal” external bleeding, Asbury Park Battalion Chief Chris Barkalow said to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The stake, which measured six feet, had to be cut into smaller pieces before transport.

Define impaled: What does impaled mean?

Impaled means to pierce with something pointed, according to Merriam-Webster. The umbrella pole, which often has a pointed bottom, was about an inch in diameter, officials told the Inquirer.

Officials urged beachgoers to always secure their umbrellas in the sand and carry them with the point down.

Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.