Lifeguards rescue 4 after catamaran capsizes in ocean

Quick-thinking lifeguards rescued four people Sunday afternoon after a catamaran capsized off a Monmouth County beach.

Public domain image.

Public domain image.

Quick-thinking lifeguards rescued four people Sunday afternoon after a catamaran capsized off a Monmouth County beach.

Police were dispatched to the Deal Casino beach around 1:45 p.m. on a report of a capsized Hobie Cat and victims in the water, according to a Deal Police Department news release.

Arriving police officers spotted Deal lifeguards Bailey Crochet and Jake Shirley rowing toward the victims. Battling a stiff southeasterly wind at 25 to 30 miles per hour, the lifeguards reached all three occupants within minutes.

Crochet and Shirley then guided the disabled vessel toward Shore with all three occupants safely on board.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

That’s when a second Hobie Cat arrived, and an occupant of the vessel became the fourth victim when entering the water and attempting to assist.

The lifeguards rescued the person and transported all to shore without further incident.

Police say the Hobie Cat capsized after its mast snapped at the base.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal