Nine people were rescued from the ocean during two separate emergencies that occurred minutes apart on Sunday evening off unguarded beaches in Wildwood, New Jersey. The Wildwood Beach Patrol’s after-hours response team, along with police officers and firefighters, pulled the swimmers to safety after they struggled in the surf following the departure of daytime lifeguards.
These rescues occurred shortly after New Jersey approved a designation that formally recognizes open-water lifeguards as first responders.
Emergency Response at Wildwood Beaches
The two emergencies unfolded in rapid succession on Sunday evening. Because the incidents took place after the standard daytime lifeguard shifts had ended, the response fell to the Wildwood Beach Patrol’s after-hours response team, supported by police officers and firefighters. Witnesses described the scene as a high-intensity operation, with one observer comparing the speed and coordination of the responders to “Baywatch.”
Witnesses reported that the swimmers were struggling significantly in the surf. One witness stated that the victims appeared to be floating but were “stuck” and unable to reach the surface before the rescue teams intervened. All nine individuals were successfully recovered and brought to safety.
New Jersey’s First Responder Designation for Lifeguards
The timing of these rescues coincides with a policy change in New Jersey. The state recently approved a designation that formally recognizes open-water lifeguards as first responders.
Wildwood Beach Patrol Chief Steve Stocks described lifeguards as being on the “front line” and the “first line of defense” when responding to ocean emergencies. According to Stocks, the designation is vital because every guard is “someone’s son or someone’s daughter,” and the state must ensure they are protected.
The push for this recognition follows the 2021 deaths of two Jersey Shore lifeguards who died in the line of duty. Tom Gill, President of the U.S. Lifesaving Association, stated that the first responder community has grants and foundations with “stockpiles of money” set aside to help families of fallen responders, and the goal is to ensure lifeguards have access to those resources in worst-case scenarios.
Push for Federal Recognition of Lifeguards
The U.S. Lifesaving Association is now advocating for similar status at the federal level. Members of the U.S. Lifesaving Association hope to speak on the House floor by the end of July.