Girl, Her Grandmother Rescued From Rip Current At Jersey Shore

MARGATE CITY, NJ — An East Stroudsberg, PA girl and her grandmother were rescued from a rip current at an unprotected beach over the weekend, Margate City police said.

Police said they received multiple calls at about 4:36 p.m. on Sept. 16 about two swimmers, a 12-year-old girl and her 58-year-old grandmother, in distress at the Wilson Avenue beach.

Officer Brendan Campbell, already on the beach for an unrelated call, "immediately responded and ran into the surf," police said.

Minutes later, Sgt. Chris Taroncher arrived on an ATV and also entered the water to help, police said.

Both swimmers were hanging onto a nearby jetty, where police were able to reach them.

Campbell and Taroncher each grabbed a victim, while battling the rough surf and rip current themselves, police said.

Both were treated on scene by the Margate City Fire Department and released.

It was one of several rescues along the Jersey Shore over the weekend, as Hurricane Lee stirred up difficult conditions and rip currents at a time when many beaches have closed for the season and have no lifeguards on duty.

"All should be reminded that swimming at unprotected beaches can be, and often is, dangerous," police said. "At this time, all Margate beaches are unprotected and considered closed for bathing, as our lifeguards are done for the season."