Vineland Man Drowns on Unguarded Strathmere Beach

Dangerous rip currents and swimming on an unguarded beach were factors for the death of a 43-year-old Vineland man who drowned Monday off Taylor Avenue in Strathmere.

Shortly after noon on Labor Day in Strathmere, beachgoers noticed two swimmers in distress. A teenage girl was rescued by a surfer.

Upper Township Beach Patrol Chief Bill Handley told 6ABC that his beach patrol was dispatched to the unguarded beach in a frantic attempt to save the girl's father.

"It's about a mile down from where our lifeguards were. We ran a chain of getting guards into vehicles to get them on the scene."

The Upper Twp Beach Patrol requested additional help from the beach patrols in Ocean City and Sea Isle City and the Coast Guard and the Marine Services Bureau of the State Police also responded.

Rescuers started CPR, and the swimmer was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

State Police Detective Jeffrey Lebron said the man was transported by ambulance to an area hospital, where he died.

The drowning remains under investigation, Lebron said. He did not release the man’s name.

Several deaths were reported and hundreds of other swimmers had to be rescued by lifeguards during Labor Day weekend.

Moderate to high rip current warnings continue along the South Jersey coast this week and beach patrols are scaled back substantially after Labor Day.

"Regardless of where you're swimming or enjoying the beach anywhere, you should swim in front of a lifeguard. If you're going to go in the water it should be a protected beach," Upper Township Mayor Jay Newman told 6ABC.