Swimmer drowns, multiple people rescued from rip current at Seaside Heights; 1 dead at Manhattan Beach

Two people drowned in separate incidents in the water in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, and Brooklyn on Monday night. 

The mayor of Seaside Heights spoke out Tuesday about the tragedy. 

Rip currents turn deadly in Seaside Heights

Five swimmers were rescued from the waters on the Webster Avenue Beach in Seaside Heights, but one did not survive. 

Drone video shows the rescues taking place after 6:30 p.m. on Monday, when lifeguards were not on duty. Chief William Rumbolo of the Seaside Heights Fire Department told CBS News the swimmers got caught in a rip current.  

Rescue squads performed CPR on the unidentified 31-year-old man, who was pronounced dead at Community Medical Center in Toms River. 

Police say two people were treated and released from the hospital. The others are in stable condition.

Witness Alex Hall said he watched the tragedy unfold.

“I heard screams, one woman running over here when the last individual was pulled out of the water. It was awful,” Hall said.

A mother and son were also on the beach when the rescues happened.

“We saw them rescuing people. They had to throw out he rope and pull them in because the rip currents took them in seconds,” witness Robert Russo said.

“People actually need to be mindful. They ask you to leave the beach for a reason because they cannot protect you because [when] they leave it’s after hours,” Eileen Russo said.

During the week, lifeguards in Seaside Heights are on duty from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and until 6 p.m. on weekends. The mayor and police chief are considering closing the beach to the public when lifeguards are not on duty. 

“You might have people who think they know the ocean better than they do. It’s a very dangerous playground and if you’re not paying attention it’ll take you like that,” Police Chief Thomas Boyd said. 

“I’d rather have you mad at us for closing the beach at 7 p.m. than having someone die,” Mayor Tony Vaz said. 

The Seaside Heights fire chief said 12 rescues were performed over the weekend. They also took place in unprotected areas. 

Other rescue squads are also saving lives. There were rescues on beaches like Seaside Park and Island Beach Park. In Asbury Park, New Jersey, there have been 25 rescues and 33 assists during the past week. In Long Branch, there have been 390 rescues in the past week. And in Belmar, there were 49 rescues over the weekend, officials said. 

Rip currents have been very powerful, and it’s easy to get caught in them within seconds. Vaz said there are signs all over the beach warning swimmers not to go in the water when lifeguards aren’t present, and the town is considering adding signs in Spanish. 

Vaz said he’s determining whether to gate off the beach right after lifeguards go off duty, or closer to 7 p.m. 

Deadly incident at Manhattan beach

A 55-year-old woman died after being pulled out of the water in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn. It happened just after 6 p.m. Monday near Mackenzie Street. Video shows first responders rushing the woman to an ambulance. She died at the hospital, police said. 

The medical examiner will determine her cause of death. Her identity has not been released. 

Lifeguards in New York City are on duty from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.   

Incidents took place after lifeguards were off duty

The heat and humidity is drawing people to the water, but officials are warning people that doing so without a lifeguard can be dangerous. The incidents in Seaside Heights and Brooklyn took place after lifeguards were off duty. 

CBS News New York’s First Alert Weather Team says there was a moderate risk for riptides in Manhattan Beach and in Seaside Heights on Monday night. A moderate risk is hardly out of the ordinary, however.