BARNEGAT LIGHT, N.J. — On Sunday, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued two men who became stranded on the south jetty of Barnegat Inlet as the tide, driven by the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto, surged in the late afternoon. The men climbed a light post to escape the advancing waters.
A good Samaritan at Station Barnegat Light alerted the Coast Guard, prompting the dispatch of a helicopter from the Atlantic City station, according to Petty Officer Christopher Bokum.
“Multiple Station 13 and Barnegat Light First Aid Squad resources earlier on scene at the Barnegat Light State Park for 2 adult males stuck at the end of the South Jetty. We had 2 jetskis in the water, along with U.S. Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light 47 and helicopter. One of our rescuers swam over to the rocks and assisted the 2 males up the light post where the USCG swimmer could be lowered down to rescue the males in distress. Minor injuries to one and no injuries to the other. Great inter-agency work resulting in a successful rescue,” the Barnegat Light Fire Company reported.
The helicopter crew used a hoist to lift the men to safety from their precarious perch. Once back on shore, they were assessed by first aid responders from Barnegat Light. Petty Officer Bokum reported that neither man was seriously hurt.
The Barnegat Light Volunteer Fire Co. 1 also responded to the scene, assisting in the water rescue operation.
Fisherman can walk to the end of the jetty during low tide, but the jetty disappears under the waves at nearly every high tide. Instead of making back toward the higher ground. the fishermen went to the end of the jetty where a tower stands and climbed the platform.
On that day because of the passing storm, the entire jetty was submerged by waves making their escape nearly impossible.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported;
A good samaritan reported seeing two persons in distress on the South Jetty of Barnegat Inlet. Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light launched a 47’ Motor Life Boat (MLB) to quickly respond, but once on-scene determined that the sea state was too large to get close enough to the jetty to retrieve the distressed persons.
As a result, a rescue swimmer was deployed from the 47’ MLB and was able to assist the persons to safety at the top of the jetty tower while they waited to be rescued by an MH-65E Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City.
Barnegat Volunteer Fire Company additionally responded to the scene via jet skis and were able to get an EMT on the jetty to wait with the distressed persons and provide them lifejackets until the helicopter arrived on-scene.
The helicopter arrived on-scene at 7:08 PM and both persons were hoisted into the helicopter and transferred to Atlantic Ocean Beachfront to receive further medical care from EMS.
