Man Drowns In Rough Surf At Brick Beach

BRICK, NJ — A 54-year-old man drowned Saturday while swimming at Brick Beach, despite the efforts of two surfers who tried to save him, police said.

The man was swimming at Brick Beach I when police were called about 12:30 p.m. about a swimmer in distress, Brick Sgt. Jim Kelly said. He said the man's identity is being withheld to protect the family's privacy.

Two surfers saw him and tried to rescue him, and they were able to get his head out of the water, Kelly said. But they couldn’t get him on to the beach, he said.

Brick police and firefighters from Breton Woods, Pioneer Hose and Laurelton Fire Companies responded, and the Coast Guard was called to pull the man out of the water.

He was taken to the Coast Guard Station in Point Pleasant Beach, where Point Pleasant Beach EMS was waiting. Paramedics performed CPR and lifesaving measures as they drove him to Hackensack Meridian Ocean Medical Center in Brick, but he succumbed to his injuries. The man was pronounced dead just after 2:30 p.m., Kelly said.

Detective Thomas Cooney is investigating.

Brick Township's beaches are not staffed with lifeguards after Labor Day weekend. Swimming is not permitted when there are no lifeguards present.

The National Weather Service issued a warning that there is a high risk of rip currents all weekend due to conditions offshore from Tropical Storm Odette.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or download our app to have breaking news alerts sent right to your phone. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Brick Patch on Facebook.