Woman, teen drown off North Wildwood

A 27-year-old woman and a teenage girl who went into the ocean after lifeguards had left for the day drowned yesterday in the waters off North Wildwood, authorities said.

Rescuers pulled the 15-year-old girl from the water within minutes of their arrival, but she died later at Cape Regional Medical Center, North Wildwood Police said. She was only identified as a resident of Middletown, Conn.

The other victim was Jamilah Watkins, of South Carolina.

Initial reports indicated the victims were mother and child, but their relationship, if any, is not clear.

Police said officers and members of the Beach Patrol responded to two 911 calls shortly before 6 p.m. reporting three people struggling in Hereford Inlet, near First and Surf Avenues.

When the rescuers arrived, they found one of the three people was safe but were told the other two remained in the water

Joined by U.S. Coast Guard vessels and marine units from the state police and neighboring towns, authorities searched for the woman for 90 minutes before finding her lifeless body.

Officials said the beach was closed to swimming and unguarded at the time.

The Press of Atlantic City in a report on its website said Jamilah Watkins is the daughter of Jesse Watkins, a Middle Township man convicted in February of murdering his cousin, Craig White.