VENTNOR CITY, NJ – As Tropical Storm Fay battered the Jersey Shore coast, it claimed at least one life as an 18-year-old from New York vanished in the rough surf on Friday according to Ventnor City officials. The incident happened at the Victoria Avenue beach as the man was swimming with two others in the rough ocean. At the time, the beach was unattended by lifeguards and closed.
Police said they arrived after receiving a 9-1-1 call and saw the man’s body about 50 yards off the beach, but they were unable to reach him, before he vanished under the waves. Ventnor City police now say the rescue operation has turned into a recovery operation.