STRATHMERE – New Jersey State Police (NJSP) confirmed that a father who was pulled from the ocean in Strathmere, Sept. 4, died in an area hospital.
NJSP Detective Jeffrey Lebron said state troopers responded to a drowning at 12:16 p.m. off Taylor Avenue in Strathmere.
Lebron later identified the victim as Mark Costin, 43, of Vineland.
A published report from 6ABC said Costin and his fiancé, Melissa Metcalf, planned a last minute trip to the beach in Strathmere, and brought Metcalf’s three children, as well as one of her son’s girlfriends and Costin’s daughter.
Costin reportedly went into the ocean with his daughter, Jocelyn, 13, and his future stepdaughter, Reagan, 12. When Reagan got caught in a rip current, Costin, who 6ABC said was a medic in the National Guard, came to her rescue, but then became caught in the rip current himself.
According to the 6ABC report, a surfer was able to rescue Reagan. Costin was reportedly found 10 to 15 minutes later by members of the Upper Township Beach Patrol (UTBP), who administered CPR. Costin was then taken to the hospital, where he died.
The drowning remains under investigation, Lebron said.
The beach where the family was swimming is typically not guarded.
UTBP Chief Bill Handley confirmed that the swimmers were in an area where there was no lifeguard for about a mile in either direction. He stressed the importance of swimming near lifeguards.
“One of the things to come out of this is everyone should know that the lifeguards know where the rip currents are and what to do to get you out of one,” Handley said.
Handley said if a swimmer finds him or herself in a rip current, the important thing is to keep calm.
“Don’t panic, stay afloat, and wait for someone to come to you,” he said.
On the other hand, if swimmers are too far from the lifeguards, they might not be able to get there in time. Handley also mentioned that at this point, about half of the UTBP lifeguards have left for the summer.
Handley said he taught a boating and water safety course, and he always taught students not to be so confident in themselves that they put themselves at risk.
This is also the second documented case recently of a surfer or surfers coming to the aid of a swimmer who was in distress.
“There is probably no one who knows more about the ocean. They are strong water men and women who understand the ocean,” Handley said.
In addition, surfers have a flotation device at hand, and Handley advises all swimmers to consider having flotation devices with them on the beach in the event they have to assist a swimmer.
“Having flotation ensures your safety and calms a victim down by providing flotation,” he said.
Contact the author, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
