Swimmer Missing In Water Off Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — A swimmer went missing Sunday in the water off Ocean City. The search for Jabed Ikbal will continue Monday morning, according to officials.

Authorities received a call at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday about swimmers in distress at an unprotected beach on the Great Egg Harbor Inlet, just south of the Ocean City-Longport Bridge. When first responders arrived, family members indicated that Ikbal hadn't returned to shore.

Ikbal, 24, of Clementon, entered the water to help two family members. Both made it safely to the beach, but Ikbal didn't. Strong tidal currents created dangerous conditions at the beach where Ikbal disappeared, according to a city spokesperson.

Ocean City Beach Patrol, the Ocean City Police Department and the Ocean City Fire Department will continue the search Monday morning.

All three agencies conducted a search Sunday, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, Longport Volunteer Fire Department, Longport Beach Patrol and Scullville Volunteer Fire Department.

Anyone with additional information on this case can contact the U.S. Coast Guard's Delaware Bay command center on VHF-FM channel 16 or at 215-271-4940.

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