Victim ID'd, Details After Body Pulled From South Jersey Quarry: Cops

A 23-year-old man died after apparently drowning in a South Jersey quarry on Monday, police said.

At 6:18 p.m., the Township of Hamilton Police Department responded to the quarry off Thelma Avenue in Mays Landing for a missing swimmer. The swimmer was identified as Lenyn Mercedes-Payamps, age 23, of Pleasantville, police said.

And investigation revealed Mercedes-Payamps attempted to swim to a sandbar in the quarry but was unable. A witness attempted to perform a rescue but was unsuccessful, according to the Hamilton Township police.

The Hamilton Police Department coordinated the response of rescue personnel to assist in the search for the swimmer. Divers from the Township of Hamilton Dive Team and the Brigantine Dive Team responded and conducted a search of the quarry, police said.

The search was aided by additional rescue personnel including United States Coast Guard helicopter, Township of Hamilton Emergency Management, Township of Hamilton Rescue Squad, AtlantiCare Paramedics and the Mays Landing, Laureldale, Brigantine, Richland, and Collings Lakes Fire Departments.

Approximately 3 hours into the search, divers located Lenyn’s body.

We'll have more information as it comes in.

Photo courtesy of Mercedes family