Teen Swimmer Missing Off Spring Lake Beach: Authorities

SPRING LAKE, NJ — A Mercer County teenager remained missing Sunday night after he got pulled into the ocean by a rip current in Spring Lake on Sunday afternoon, police said.

Josiah Jeremiah Robison, 15, of Ewing, went missing about 2:45 p.m. after authorities received a report about two juvenile swimmers in distress on Brighton Avenue beach, Spring Lake police said in a news release posted to the department's Facebook page.

A bystander who was in the water was able to reach the girl, and with the assistance of the Spring Lake lifeguards, she was brought back to the beach safely, police said. The girl is Robison's sister, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Lifeguards and law enforcement from the New Jersey State Police, United States Coast Guard, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Spring Lake Heights, Sea Girt, Belmar, Manasquan, and Wall all assisted in searching the water from Ludlow Avenue beach to Jersey Avenue beach, Spring Lake police said.

"After approximately four hours, we were still unable to locate Robison," police said.

The State Police Marine Unit suspended its search at dusk Sunday and was expecting to resume Monday morning, the Asbury Park Press report said, and police would continue to patrol the shoreline overnight.

"The Spring Lake Police and assisting agencies will continue our search for the victim. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends during this tragedy," the department's Facebook post said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Christopher Kucinski at 732-449-1234 or by email at ckucinski@springlakepolice.org.

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