Man, 67, Drowns At Cape May Beach: Police

CAPE MAY, NJ — A man drowned Thursday in the ocean off Cape May, police said. James P. Lane, 67, died at the hospital shortly after he was rescued.

Cape May Beach Patrol contacted police at about 3:34 p.m. to alert emergency services for a water rescue at Grant Street and Beach Drive. Lane was found face down in the surf about 50 yards from the beach.

Officials brought Lane to the beach to administer CPR. The Cape May Fire Department took the Binghamton, New York, man to Cape Regional Medical Center. He died at the hospital.

Waters around the Jersey Shore have experienced rip currents for much of September. New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection recommends the following:

• Read and heed signs at beaches warning about the dangers of rip currents, which pull people away from shore. Drowning deaths occur when people pulled offshore cannot keep themselves afloat and swim to shore. This may be due to any combination of fear, panic, exhaustion or lack of swimming skills.
• When caught in a rip current, stay calm and swim parallel to the beach until you are out of the current. Once you are free, turn and swim toward shore. If you can't make it to the shore, draw attention to yourself by waving and calling for help.
• If you see someone in trouble in a rip current, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1. Rip currents can be stronger than the strongest swimmer. Throw the swimmer something that floats, such as a lifejacket, raft, cooler or inflatable ball and stay on shore and in contact with that person until help arrives. Do not become a victim of the rip current yourself.

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