A routine day at the beach in Toms River turned into a harrowing ordeal when a group of girls found themselves caught in a dangerous situation. Thanks to the swift response of the Chadwick Beach patrol, however, all 12 girls were successfully rescued from the treacherous waters.
Captain E.C. Peters, the seasoned leader of the beach patrol, recounted the dramatic events that unfolded that fateful afternoon to The Patch.
“We were preparing to wrap up for the day,” Peters explained during a Monday evening interview. Suddenly, a distress call rang out as several girls were pulled farther into the ocean, struggling to stay afloat. Peters and his team wasted no time springing into action.
The incident occurred around 4:15 p.m. when Bobby Irwin, stationed at the main stand, noticed three girls in distress and immediately rushed to their aid. As Irwin sprinted towards the struggling swimmers, other vigilant guards joined the rescue effort. Within moments, the situation escalated, and more girls found themselves in perilous circumstances. The small rescue operation rapidly grew, requiring the full engagement of the entire beach patrol team.
Despite relatively calm surf conditions that day, the incident unfolded near a deceptively hazardous sandbar. The teenagers, unaware of the sudden drop-off, were caught off-guard. “The sandbar has a dip in it,” Peters explained, emphasizing how quickly the water transitioned from knee-deep to a daunting eight feet deep, which resulted in a powerful undertow. “People panic.”
Drawing on their extensive training, the lifeguards swiftly sprang into action. Some armed themselves with rescue boards, while others secured rescue lines for their colleagues to grab hold of as they escorted the distressed girls back to safety. Even a nearby off-duty guard, who happened to be surfing at the time, rushed to provide assistance. Peters commended his team, stating, “None of them hesitated.”
The nearby lifeguards from Silver Beach also joined forces, taking charge of the Chadwick Beach stands to ensure the safety of other swimmers while the majority of the Chadwick guards focused on the rescue mission. Additionally, a retired lifeguard and a father present at the scene willingly stepped in to lend their support.
The combined efforts of the dedicated lifeguards, including Bobby Irwin, Lt. Sean Frew, Desai Gliddon, Luke Hewlitt, Kerry Perna, Dan Brodeur, Nick Herkins, Matt Schwartz, Sean O’Callahan, and Grace Fehrnstrom, culminated in the successful rescue of all 12 girls, with no serious injuries reported.
The initial three girls, who had found themselves in grave danger, were understandably shaken. To ensure their comfort and well-being, blankets and towels were promptly provided to warm them up after their terrifying ordeal.
