At 9:00 this morning the Sea Girt Police Department received a report of an overturned boat in the waters off the National Guard Training Center. Initial reports indicated an unknown number of victims are in the water. As officers arrived they observed the vessel upside down on the beach. It was also found that the two victims which were on the vessel at the time it overturned were both accounted for but were in the water for possibly 10 minutes and were suffering from hypothermia.
One of the victim was thrown into the ocean when the vessel overturned. The operator of the vessel was trapped in the cabin. The fast actions of a worker for the beach replenishment project, using a piece of heavy construction equipment, is credited with rescuing the trapped operator of the vessel. She drove the equipment into the surf and used it to pluck the overturned vessel from the water.
The vessel was being operator as part of the beach replenishment project and was conducting a survey immediately adjacent to the shore. A wave struck the vessel’s stern and caused it to take water. A second wave caused the vessel to overturn.
No fuel or oil was observed to leak from the vessel and there was no environmental impact due to this incident.
Water temperature at the time of the incident was approximately 37 degrees F and the air temperature was approximately 6 degrees F.
One victim was transported by a private vehicle to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he was treated for hypothermia. The other victim was transported to a private residence.
The Sea Girt Police Department was assisted by the Sea Girt Fire Company, Manasquan First Aid Squad, Spring Lake First Aid Squad, Wall Community First Aid Squad, and the Spring Lake Heights Police Department.
