Officials Respond For Water Rescue At Island Beach State Park

ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK, NJ — A 40-year-old man was rescued from the water Monday at Island Beach State Park after he got caught in a rip current, a state spokesperson said.

The man got caught in the rip current after diving into rough surf at Bathing Beach 1, said Caryn Shinske, a spokesperson with the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The man, who was not identified, was conscious at the time he was rescued, and refused both medical treatment and transportation to a hospital, she said.

Lifeguards were not on duty at the time, but happened to be at the beach for equipment maintenance and responded to rescue the man, Shinske said.

After Labor Day, lifeguards only staff Island Beach State Park from Friday through Sunday until the end of September. Read more: Island Beach State Park Will Have Lifeguards On Sept. Weekends

There were four additional water rescues, in Lavallete through Seaside Park, the Seaside Park Volunteer Fire Company said, including two swimmers in distress at 11:30 a.m. Monday off Magee Avenue beach in Lavallette.

Jersey Shore beaches will have a high risk of rip currents through Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office advised people to only swim at guarded beaches.

"This is a reminder to all that during the off season there are no life guards on most beaches," the agency wrote Monday on its Facebook page.

This is a developing story. Patch will update.

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