Teen, Man Drown In North Jersey Lake: Officials

NEW JERSEY - The bodies of two swimmers at a North Jersey lake were recovered Tuesday evening hours after the pair was reported missing, authorities said.

The victims, both identified as Hispanic males, 17 and 22, were reported missing in Sunset Lake at Mine Hill Beach around 5:23 p.m. by a group to EMS personnel in the beach parking lot, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office said. The group said the swimmers went into the water at the sand pits and never came out.

While an immediate search of the area couldn’t locate the swimmers, an “intensive” search of the lake area found the bodies several hours later.

Divers from area police departments were utilized, but the search was complicated “due to tangled vegetation below the water surface,” according to the prosecutor’s office.

Additional information is pending further investigation and family member notification.

The following agencies assisted in the search: Roxbury Fire Department; Parsippany Rescue and Recovery; Picatinny Arsenal Fire Department; Boonton Fire Department; Rockaway Fire Department; East Hanover Fire PD; Bergen County Search and Rescue; Saint Clare’s EMS; Morris County EMS; Rockaway First Aid; Lyndhurst Fire Department/Dive Team; Wallington Fire Department/Dive Team; Ringwood Fire Department/Dive Team; Mahwah Fire Department/Dive Team; NJSP NorthStar Helicopter; Wyckoff Fire Department/Dive Team; and Oradell Fire Department/Dive Team.

According to NJ.com, swimming is prohibited at the beach as there are no lifeguards on duty.

The news comes amid a bout of reported drownings in New Jersey in recent weeks. On Tuesday, the body of a missing swimmer was located at Island Beach State Park after she entered the water and didn't return. Read more: Body Of Missing Island Beach State Park Woman Recovered

One man also drowned in Belmar just last weekend, and, in Bayonne, two brothers drowned in a school swimming pool last week. Three swimmers also drowned off the coast of Wildwood and Wildwood Crest earlier this month. Read more: Man Drowns Off Coast Of Wildwood Beach, 3rd In 2 Weeks

A man also died trying to swim across Harry Wright Lake in Whiting last week. Read more: Man Pulled From Harry Wright Lake Dies: Manchester Police