Avalon Honors Agencies’ Rescue Efforts in Search, Recovery of Missing Man

AVALON — Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi and Borough Council Oct. 28 formally recognized efforts of over 20 organizations and individuals who helped find a missing man last August.
The massive joint search effort resulted in the safe recovery of Harry O’Neill, 73, of Wynnewood, who wandered away from his family on the beachfront here Aug. 26.
Two members of Tuckahoe Volunteer Fire Company found him the next day in the dunes.
“The public safety community is a great example of mutual aid and working together. I’d like to thank every person who participated in this effort,” Pagliughi said.
“During our greatest time of need, dozens of volunteers and professionals from Cape May County joined our effort and located Mr. O’Neill. This story may have had a much different ending if it wasn’t for this effort. Everyone in Avalon is deeply appreciative.”
“We are very proud of the town and the county. You gave us the grit and the spirit to go on and you have our eternal gratitude,” O’Neill’s wife said.
O’Neill dispersed the mayor’s proclamation, stopping to shake hands with a few volunteers who attended the Avalon council meeting Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The proclamation reads, in part:
“On Aug. 26 at 4:47 p.m. the Avalon Police Department received a call from Captain Murray Wolf of the Beach Patrol, informing the police that Mr. Harry O’Neill, 73-years-old, suffering from Parkinson’s and a type of related dementia, was missing…Mr. O’Neill was entered into the “Missing Alert” and a search was organized through the dunes by the Avalon Fire Department. The Stone Harbor Police, and the New Jersey State Police Air Patrol, the Cape May County Sheriff’s Department K-9, the Coast Guard Search and Rescue and the Marine Police were all notified and…Avalon’s Public Information Officer contacted the media, hospitals, and sent out a message over the Global Connect System, volunteers from all our local departments, Public Works, Police, Fire, Rescue, Beach Patrol and volunteers assisting in the continuing search.”
O’Neill was located on Aug. 27, at 5:57 p.m. in the dune area at 54th Street. He was taken to Cape Regional Medical Center, where he was reunited with his family.
Volunteer groups who were recognized for their participation in this rescue include:
• Avalon Police Department
• Avalon Volunteer Fire Department
• Avalon EMS
• Avalon Public Works
• Avalon Beach Patrol
• Cape May County Office of Emergency Management
• Cape May County Fire Coordinator Art Treon
• Cape May County Emergency Management Director Frank McCall
• Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor, Esq.
• Cape May County Sheriff Gary Schaffer and his department
• Cape May County Communications Van
• Cape May Court House Fire Company
• Marmora Volunteer Fire Company
• New Jersey State Police
• North Wildwood/Anglesea Fire companies
• Seaville Volunteer Fire Company
• Stone Harbor Police, Fire, EMS, and Beach Patrol
• Town Bank Volunteer Fire Company
• Tuckahoe Volunteer Fire Company
• United States Coast Guard
• Villas Volunteer Fire Company
• West Cape May Volunteer Fire Company
• Wildwood Fire Company