Teen swimmer missing in Wildwood, officials say
Wildwood authorities said that the incident began Monday afternoon with the report a group of swimmers in distress.
Emergency crews in Wildwood were searching for a 14-year-old swimmer who remained missing following a distress call early Monday afternoon that resulted in three rescues.
Wildwood authorities said the incident began just before 1:30 p.m. near Schellenger Avenue, where a Wildwood police officer was informed of a group of swimmers in distress in the area. First responders from the Wildwood City Fire and Police Departments were immediately dispatched, and arrived to find several people struggling in the surf offshore, officials said in a statement.
A police officer, whom officials did not identify, entered the water and assisted three swimmers to safety. A fourth swimmer remained missing.
Emergency responders — including rescue swimmers from the Wildwood and North Wildwood Fire Departments, and the Wildwood and North Wildwood Beach Patrols — began searching for the teen, officials said in a statement. As search efforts progressed, boats and aircraft from the U.S. Coast Guard and the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau were dispatched, as well as rescuers on rescue boards.
Responders were unable to locate the teen and ceased beachside rescue operations after two hours, officials said. However, search efforts in the area continued Monday evening.
One swimmer was taken to Cooper University Cape Regional Hospital and was listed in stable condition. The other two swimmers were treated at the scene.
