Atlantic City police used drones to find a WaveRunner rider stranded in the marsh.
The man called for help Sunday, saying he was stranded in the deep marsh behind Atlantic City High School, police spokesman Matt Duffy said.
He could not be found using location technology due to the difficult and watery terrain.
Atlantic City police and fire responded along with State Police to try to find the man.
Atlantic City Police Sgt. Chris Miller's team launched two drones: one from the police compound and another from the parking lot of the High School, Duffy said.
Miller is a drone pilot with both the city’s Office of Emergency Management and the Police Department's drone programs.
Atlantic City police drone (File photo) Miller spotted the man about 1.4 miles from the back of Atlantic City High School.
“He was really out there in the marsh,” Miller said. “When I first observed him, he was just a speck on the screen. He clearly was in trouble.”
Miller contacted the New Jersey State Police, who dispatched a rescue vessel that eventually reached the man and brought him to safety.
“This was a perfect example of how drones enhance situational awareness, reduce response times, and contribute to saving lives,” Atlantic City Fire Chief Scott Evans said.
Atlantic City Public Safety began utilizing its first drone in 2018.
Since then, the program has expanded to include a dozen drones that help all Atlantic City public safety agencies.
This summer, the program began helping the Atlantic City Beach Patrol with rescue efforts and in collection of data on beach erosion.
