SEASIDE HEIGHTS – Two teenage boys, who decided to ignore the fact that lifeguards weren’t on duty, had to be rescued from the rough surf off Seaside Heights after they got caught up in a rip current.
Ocean County Scanner News was first to report that two people were pulled out of the ocean around 7:11 p.m. Wednesday night.
Seaside Heights Police Detective Steve Korman tells Jersey Shore Online that the teens were identified as 18-year-old Damien Ruiz of Jamesburg and 19-year-old Jason Chirieoga of East Brunswick.
Korman said officers responded to several 911 calls for two swimmers in distress at the Sumner Avenue beach. Upon officers arrival they observed one swimmer had been pulled out of the water by a Sand Tropez store employee.
Korman adds “Seaside Heights, Seaside Park and Lavallette water rescue teams arrived. Seaside Heights deployed a diver into the water to secure the second victim until a jet ski could be brought in to bring him to shore.”
Both victims were examined by Tri-Boro First Aid at the scene but refused additional medical attention.
Ruiz and Chirieoga were both issued summonses for swimming without a lifeguard present.
A similar incident happened over the weekend where one person was pulled from the surf. Police were reminding everyone that the summer season ended and no lifeguards are on duty.
