2 Swimmers Die While Trying To Save Somebody In Hazlet: Cops

Two swimmers drowned in New Jersey this weekend while they were trying to rescue another man, police said.

A man who was one of the four men swimming at the Monmouth County location called 911 for help, police said. Police arrived within minutes of the call and saw at least one male swimmer in distress, police said. Another man was yelling for help.

The swimmers were among at least 30 to die in New Jersey waters since May. Another man was killed this weekend in Seaside Heights in the rough surf, which was believed to be caused by Hurricane Florence.

Read more: At Least 30 NJ Water Deaths Since May After Weekend Seaside Heights Tragedy

The Hazlet incident happened at 2:39 p.m. on Sunday when Hazlet police received the 911 call reporting that there were swimmers in distress in Thornes Creek, police said. The waterway is near the Henry Hudson Trail in Hazlet, which runs from Natco Lake to Raritan Bay.

The officers entered the water and were able to bring one man to safety. He was transported to a local hospital.

The 911 caller, however, said he witnessed two additional men who entered to assist the swimmer in distress. Both of those men were not visible in the water when officers arrived.

The caller said the two men submerged prior to police arrival. Not being able to locate the two other swimmers, the officers called in additional resources, police said.

The Monmouth County Sheriffs responded with their drone as well as their Maritime Emergency Response Team (MERT), which is comprised ofdivers from Law Enforcement Agencies throughout Monmouth County.

The search of the creek by the drone did not locate anybody. At the same time, several boats were in the water and they did not locate anyone either.

Divers from the MERT team conducted an underwater search and, a short time, later two men were located and they were dead, police said.

Hazlet Police Detectives are currently working on identifying the two men and making notifications to their families.

The other agencies that responded and assisted were Union Beach Police, the West Keansburg & North Centerville Fire Companies, West Keansburg and Union Beach Marine Units, Hazlet, Union Beach and Keyport First Aid Squads, Hazlet, Union Beach and Monmouth County OEM, Matawan and Middletown Fire Companies, and Brevent Park Fire Marine Unit.

Patch photo