Man drowns in Wildwood Sunday afternoon

A man has died and others were rescued after becoming distressed in the ocean off Wildwood Sunday afternoon, authorities say. 

Police say lifeguards entered the ocean to rescue several swimmers in distress at the Leaming Avenue beach shortly before 1 p.m, according to a release from the Wildwood Police Department. 

After completing rescues and arriving back at shore, lifeguards were told that a 35-year-old man was missing. 

That sparked a search and rescue effort by police, fire, and beach patrol units from Wildwood, North Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest. The New Jersey State Police Marine Unit and the United States Coast Guard also joined the search. 

Surfers discovered the man’s body in the water off Rambler Avenue in Wildwood Crest shortly before 3 p.m.

Lifeguards entered the water, retrieved the man, and began lifesaving measures until the arrival of emergency medical personnel. 

The man was transported to Cape Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. 

Police are withholding the man’s identity pending family notification. 

Rip currents were classified as “low risk” on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. That risk level implies that while wind and wave conditions are not expected to support the development of enhanced rip currents, they are always possible, especially near jetties and other structures.