Three Swimmers Rescued From Ocean City Rip Current

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Three children were rescued from a rip current at an Ocean City beach on Saturday afternoon, according to officials.

Two of the children, from Hammonton, were taken to Shore Medical Center as a precaution, according to a release from Ocean City. The third, a 12-year-old Mays Landing boy, was taken to the trauma center at Cooper University Hospital, officials said. He was breathing on his own but unresponsive, officials said.

They were caught in the rip current off 10th Street around noon, officials said. Ocean City Beach Patrol was at 12th Street at the time, preparing for Memorial Day weekend. They responded using a personal watercraft while other lifeguards went on an ATV, according to the release.

Guards noticed a shirt in the water when they swam to rescue two swimmers, officials said. A third personal watercraft was launched to rescue the third, 12-year-old boy, who was submerged, officials said. Two other victims were able to make it to the beach without assistance, officials said.

Responders performed multiple rounds of CPR on the boy before he was taken to the hospital, officials said. His current condition is unknown.

The ocean temperature on Saturday was 55 degrees and surf conditions were calm.