Ocean City Beach Patrol
OCEAN. CITY - A Pennsylvania man drowned at an Ocean City beach during rough surf conditions, authorities said in a release Thursday.
The victim has been identified as Shawn Reilly, 56, of Thornhurst, Pennsylvania.
The Ocean City Beach Patrol's Rapid Response Team was alerted at 12:23 p.m. Thursday to two bathers in distress in the surf at an unprotected beach near 12th Street.
Three lifeguards entered the water and brought a father and son ashore.
An initial investigation indicates that Reilly's 21-year-old son had attempted to help his father, when he also began to struggle in the water. Strong northeast winds created rough surf conditions on Thursday, authorities said.
The lifeguards and Ocean City Beach Patrol medics immediately began CPR. Ocean City Fire Department firefighters/EMTs took over CPR and transported Shawn Reilly to Shore Medical Center in Somers Point, where he was declared dead. The Ocean City Police Department assisted in the response.
