3 Hospitalized, 1 Critical After Ortley Beach Rescue

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Three people were hospitalized Saturday and a fourth man was rescued by surfers as Toms River authorities responded to multiple distress calls after people ignored warnings about rip currents and swam at unguarded beaches.

A Freehold man and two Connecticut women were hospitalized after they were pulled from the water in Ortley Beach about 12:30 p.m., said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

A 22-year-old woman from New Fairfield, Connecticut, was pulled out of the water at 8th Avenue and Ocean Avenue by friends, as was a 29-year-old man from Freehold. Both were treated by EMS at the beach and taken to Community Medical Center, Toms River. Both were listed as stable, Messina said.

A 27-year-old woman from Brookfield, Connecticut, was listed in critical condition at Community Medical Center in the same incident, Messina said. She was seen going under water several times and was pulled from the water by Seaside Heights firefighters on a rescue wave runner, Messina said. The firefighters performed CPR on her while she was on the wave runner. EMS and medics continued CPR on the beach, where they were able to restore her pulse, Messina said.

Messina said three surfers rescued a man who got caught in a rip current about 11:20 a.m. at 2nd Ave and Ocean Terrace in the Normandy Beach section. Witnesses said the man was struggling to keep his head above water, but Joseph Gates of Hopatcong got in the water with his surfboard and was able to keep the man above water. Thomas Galbraith of Warren and Colin Cronin of Lavallette went in the water with their surfboards and were able to help Gates bring the man back to shore. There were no injuries and no one needed medical assistance in that instance.

Toms River police forced swimmers to get out of the water afterward because of the dangerous conditions.

Earlier this week, the National Weather Service issued a warning saying the risk of life-threatening rip currents was high for Saturday, caused by Tropical Storm Odette. High humidity and warm temperatures on Saturday led people to decide to cool off in the water anyway.

The calls were coming in with such frequency that volunteer fire companies, police and the Ocean County Sheriff's Office urged people to stay out of the water.

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