Rescue vehicles on the beach help to search for the missing swimmer.
OCEAN CITY - The Coast Guard and local authorities are searching for a missing man who was swimming in the vicinity of the Ocean City bridge, Sunday evening.
According to the Ocean City Police, dispatchers received a 911 call at 7:27 p.m. about bathers in distress at an unprotected beach on the Great Egg Harbor Inlet just south of the Ocean City-Longport bridge
When first responders arrived, family members indicated that one bather had not returned to shore. The missing swimmer was identified as Jabed Ikbal, 24, of Clementon.
The initial investigation indicates Ikbal entered the water to assist two other family members who were in trouble. The two made it back to the beach, but Ikbal did not. Strong daily tidal currents create dangerous condition at the beach where Ikbal disappears.
Ocean City Police alerted Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay command center. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City sent an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew and launched a 29-foot Response Boat-Small boat crew to search the area. Also assisting in the search is the Coast Guard Cutter Bonito.
The Ocean City Beach Patrol, Police and Fire departments, Longport Volunteer Fire Department, Longport Beach Patrol and the Scullville Volunteer Fire Department responded to help search for the bather.
Anyone with additional information regarding this case should contact the Delaware Bay command center on VHF-FM channel 16 or at 215-271-4940.
Ocean City Police, Fire and Beach Patrol mobilize to help find the missing swimmer.
