VENTNOR – Members of the Beach Patrol’s After Hours Rescue Team responded to a 911 call received at 6:10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2 reporting a man floating in the ocean. When lifeguards arrived, bystanders had pulled the man from the water and started performing CPR.
Mayor Tim Kriebel, who chairs Public Safety, confirmed there was a rescue and lifesaving measures administered under difficult circumstances. He was reluctant to offer additional information due to patient privacy concerns.
Ventnor City Beach PatrolBeach Patrol Chief David Funk said the city employs three lifeguards 6-8 p.m. to respond to any emergencies, and cautions beachgoers to stay out of the ocean unless there are lifeguards present.
The incident happened at Austin Avenue and lifeguards stationed at Beach Patrol Headquarters about a quarter-mile away on Suffolk Avenue arrived within two minutes of receiving the call.
“The people on the beach pulled the man out of the water and members of the Beach Patrol took over CPR and administered lifesaving measures along with members of the Fire Department,” Funk said.
The unidentified man was transported to AtlantiCare Medical Center City Division and is reported to be in critical condition.
Funk said the guards were dealing with an east-northeast flow of ocean leading up to the time the beach was closed to bathers, but since the incident happened after lifeguards left the beach for the day, he is uncertain if the man was caught in a riptide.
“After 6 p.m., it’s imperative that people heed our warnings to stay out of the ocean unless a lifeguard is present, no matter how attractive the water looks,” Funk said.
The After Hours Rescue Team is comprised of three guards equipped with Polaris beach vehicles, ATVs, and rescue and medical equipment.
“All emergency personnel who responded worked well together to help get the patient stabilized and to the hospital,” Funk said. “Unfortunately, it takes something like this to happen to get people to heed our warnings.”
According to a Facebook post, the man is reportedly 55-years-old and is a “devoted husband and father.” The post said the family is in need of prayers and healing.
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