Authorities Searching Shark River Inlet In Monmouth County For Missing Teen

Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ -- Authorities are expected to resume their search Sunday morning for a 17-year-old boy who went missing while free diving in the Shark River Inlet area.

The U.S. Coast Guard said in a press release that it joined the search for the teenager when Belmar police contacted Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay about 5 p.m. on Saturday to report the teenager, who had been free diving, was missing.

New Jersey State Police Lt. Brian Polite said Saturday that the NJSP marine unit was assisting Avon police with the search, but he did not have details. Avon police, contacted Saturday evening, did not provide details.

The Asbury Park Press reported the teen was from Westfield.

The U.S. Coast Guard press release said a 29-foot Response Boat-Small rescue crew was dispatched from Station Shark River and an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescue crew was dispatched from Air Station Atlantic City to aid in the search.

Shark River Inlet is closed to boaters while the search is being conducted, the Coast Guard said. The search continued until about 10:30 p.m. and was suspended until Sunday morning.

Shark River Inlet is heavily traveled by boaters, both private boats and larger recreational fishing vessels. There were no reports of rip currents on Saturday, but thunderstorms moved through the area, with the first cell of storms prompting a thunderstorm warning from the National Weather Service about 3 p.m.

During those storms, two women were struck by lightning about 3 p.m. in Point Pleasant Beach, less than 10 miles south of Shark River Inlet.

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Police lights, Image via Shutterstock