13-year-old girl dies in drowning at Belmar, NJ beach



A 13-year-old girl died Friday night after going missing in the ocean at a Jersey Shore beach.

Police in Belmar responded to the 8th Avenue beach shortly after 6:30 p.m. after receiving several 911 calls about “a swimmer in distress,” Belmar Police Chief Tina Scott said in a news release.

When officers arrived, that person was already out of the water, but a 13-year-old swimmer was still missing.

Belmar Water Rescue immediately entered the water to locate the missing teen, who was found unresponsive about an hour later in the water off the 7th Avenue beach.

The young victim was pulled from the water as Belmar lifeguards, Belmar EMS, Wall Township EMS and Hackensack Meridian paramedics attempted lifesaving measures.

The teen was then taken to Jersey Shore University Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead “despite extensive efforts,” Scott said.

Authorities did not identify the swimmer, but Coast Guard Petty Officer Matthew West confirmed to NJ Advance Media that the victim was a girl.

The incident remains under investigation, police said.

Lifeguards are on duty in Belmar — one of the Shore’s most popular beaches — from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, according to the borough’s website.

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