Girl, 12, Drowns At Sandy Hook

SANDY HOOK, NJ — A 12-year-old girl drowned after swimming at Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area, a spokeswoman for the National Park Service confirmed to Patch.

The drowning happened Sunday afternoon, but the girl died Monday morning. She was rescued from Beach E Sunday night at around 5:50 p.m., parks spokeswoman Daphne Yun said. The lifeguards gave her CPR right away, as did an EMT that arrived on scene.

"I was standing there when they pulled her out. She was blue," Bridegwater resident Amy Delmanto, who witnessed the entire incident, told NJ.com reporters. "They had to use the defibrillator on her. It seemed like she was down a long time. I speak a little Spanish and prayed with the family on the beach. The brother was just screaming for his sister. It was so sad."

The girl was breathing when she was transported to Monmouth Medical Center Sunday night, Yun said.

"Unfortunately she passed away this morning," she said.

The girl was at the beach with her family. Yun said her name will not be released because she's a minor. Yun said she was not aware if there were rip currents or dangerous conditions reported at Beach E Sunday.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons photo of Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area