A 28-year-old Forked River man died Friday afternoon after being pulled from the ocean unconscious during a rip current rescue operation in Ship Bottom.
Ship Bottom, NJ – Emergency responders recovered a Forked River man from the surf Friday afternoon after he became caught in a rip current off a Ship Bottom beach. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by rescue personnel, the man later died at a local hospital.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:28 p.m. near East 21st Street, where officers from the Ship Bottom Police Department, along with members of the Ship Bottom Fire Department and Surf City Fire and EMS, responded to reports of four people caught in a rip current.
Key Points
• Four individuals became caught in a rip current off Ship Bottom on Friday afternoon.
• Three people made it safely to shore before responders arrived.
• A 28-year-old Forked River man later died after being pulled unconscious from the water.
When first responders arrived, three of the four individuals had already exited the water and were safely on shore. The fourth swimmer, identified as 28-year-old David Maldonado-Ocelotl of Forked River, remained missing in the surf.
Rescue effort launched in ocean
Fire rescue personnel initiated a search of the area with assistance from local surfers who entered the water to help locate the missing swimmer. Authorities said Maldonado-Ocelotl was eventually found in the ocean unconscious and not breathing.
Emergency crews immediately began life-saving measures at the scene before transporting him to Southern Ocean Medical Center for further treatment.
Victim later pronounced dead
Despite rescue efforts by first responders and medical personnel, Maldonado-Ocelotl was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Officials have not released additional information regarding the circumstances leading up to the incident. The tragedy serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by rip currents along the Jersey Shore, particularly during periods of strong surf and changing ocean conditions.
