Coast Guard and police search for missing swimmer off Point Pleasant Beach

Kristin Thorne Image
Monday, July 31, 2017
Coast Guard, police search for missing swimmer off Point Pleasant Beacsh
Kristin Thorne has more on the search for the missing swimmer off Point Pleasant Beach.

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, New Jersey (WABC) -- Rescue teams are trying to find a missing swimmer in the waters off Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey.

Two people went into the water at about 2 a.m. Sunday. One person was located quickly, but crews are still trying to find the other, a 24-year-old woman.

The Coast Guard was notified at about 2:27 a.m. of a woman with brown hair who reportedly went missing while swimming with a friend.

Apparently the woman went into the water with no clothes on.

We spoke with a witness who was there Saturday night. He says he saw a man come out of the water with no clothes on.

He told bystanders there was still a woman in the water.

"We called some help, we called the police and said there's still a girl in the water," the witness said. "It's really sad for this community. I think she was a local person."

Authorities have not released the identity of the missing swimmer.

We spoke with two people who were at the scene very early Sunday morning.

They looked upset and walked right up to police. Asked if they knew the victim, they said yes but they didn't want to talk.

The Coast Guard launched a motorized boat from Manasaquan Inlet and the Coast Guard Air Station in Atlantic City launched a helicopter to provide an aerial search to assist the local police and fire departments.

Also involved in the search are Point Pleasant Beach Police. assisted by fire companies and dive teams from neighboring towns.

The National Weather Service had issued a warning about dangerous rip currents along the Jersey Shore this weekend. The advisory had spurred many towns to ban swimming at their beaches.


(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)