Woman dies after getting caught in a rip current at unguarded beach

Photo via Facebook
The victim had been on Long Beach Island
with her boyfriend for his sister's wedding.

A young woman who was caught in a rip current at an unguarded beach on Long Beach Island this weekend passed away at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia early on Sunday, June 19. The victim, 24-year-old Kristi Pisano of Port Chester, N.Y., had been in town with her boyfriend for his sister’s wedding.

“It was just a tragic, tragic accident,” said Al Della Fave, public affairs director at the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. “As much as people are given tips on getting caught in the rips, once you’re caught in a rip it’s very easy to panic.”

Pisano was staying with her boyfriend at the Mariner Inn in the Beach Haven Gardens section of Long Beach Township. Prior to the wedding Saturday afternoon, the couple, who Della Fave said hadn’t been dating long, decided to go for a swim near the 24th Street beach in the Spray Beach section of the township. According to eyewitness accounts, Pisano was knocked over by a wave and pulled under water. By the time her boyfriend realized she was in distress and was able to reach her and pull her out of the water, she had been submerged “a good amount of time,” said Della Fave.

“Though the boyfriend was an accomplished swimmer, he was not aware of her abilities,” Della Fave stated. “It’s a really tragic reminder of how dangerous a place the ocean can be.”

The Long Beach Township Police Department was first on the scene after receiving a call at 11:12 a.m. alerting it to a swimmer in distress.

Members of the Long Beach Township Beach Patrol responded from their base, at 68th Street in Brant Beach. On Saturday, the 68th Street beach was the only guarded beach in the township, as it had been, weekends only, since Memorial Day weekend. Sunday was the patrol’s first day fully staffing the beaches in the township.

The Beach Haven First Aid Squad and the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Co. also responded.

According to the township police, Pisano was taken to Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, and then airlifted to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

The LBTBP reminds beachgoers to swim only on guarded beaches.

Della Fave said swimmers should tell whoever they’re with if their swimming “is not that up to speed” and also should “stay very close to other folks.”

“Look how quickly this took place. It was literally seconds,” he stated. “One minute she was fine, next minute she’s knocked over, next minute she’s under the water. It was a few minutes before he managed to locate her and get her out. When you’re swallowing saltwater and you’re underwater for a few minutes, it can easily result in death.”

Pisano was pronounced dead by hospital staff at 1:22 a.m. on Sunday. An autopsy will most likely rule the cause of death as asphyxiation by drowning, said Della Fave, who noted witness accounts confirmed there was nothing suspicious about the incident.

Also in the township on Saturday, three swimmers in distress off 105th Street in Beach Haven Park were rescued by off-duty LBTBP guards around 3:30 p.m. Two mobile units from the beach patrol base and a guard from 68th Street responded. The individuals were given oxygen and blankets and were transferred to the Beach Haven First Aid Squad.

Earlier this month, Watchung resident James Clarke, 55, died after assisting swimmers in distress off 46th Street in the Brant Beach section of the township, where he owned a home.

According to the township police department, a call came into dispatch at 4:41 p.m. on June 5 alerting the police to five people in the ocean off 46th Street, including three kids in distress. The caller remained on the phone, and subsequently informed dispatch that all five people had made it out of the water and were fine.

As per standard procedure, the police responded to the scene regardless. When Officer Matt Vereb of the LBTPD arrived, an individual was performing CPR on Clarke, who had collapsed on the beach after helping rescue the kids from the water, one of which was his 15-year-old son.

The Beach Haven First Aid Squad also responded.

Clarke was later pronounced dead. The police said they could not comment on the cause of death, as an autopsy must be performed before any statement can be made. The autopsy results will not be available for several weeks, according to the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.