Coast Guard Rescues 6 Boaters After Crash Off Jersey Shore

BEACH HAVEN, NJ — Six people were rescued early Sunday morning after their boat struck a fixed navigational aid near Ham Island and sent the injured boaters into the water, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard said in a news release that a Good Samaritan alerted watchstanders at the Sector Delaware Bay Command Center at 12:18 a.m. and told officials that he heard a large crash and heard several calls for help.

Coast Guard members were sent to the area by boat and helicopter along with a jet ski crew from the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Department. Once on scene, first responders found the six boaters who had been on a 30-foot pleasure craft when the accident took place, the Coast Guard said.

The first responders arrived at 12:32 a.m. and were able to rescue all six people from the water and officials said in the release all six had sustained injuries in the crash. The boaters were taken back to shore and were taken to local hospitals.

The Coast Guard did not provide information about the condition of the boaters.

Sector Delaware Bay issued a safety marine information broadcast to mariners to be aware of potential debris in the area from the crash, the Coast Guard said in the news release. Coast Guard crews will be actively working to fix the aid to navigation.