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The Asbury Park Fire Department pulled a distressed swimmer to shore Wednesday afternoon, department spokesman Garrett Giberson Jr. said.

Firefighters, trained in water rescue, responded to a 3:11 p.m. report of two distressed swimmers in the surf off the Deal Lake Drive beach,Giberson said.

Asbury Park Police Department spokesman Sgt Michael Casey has identified the victims as a 54-year-old man from Wallkill, NY, and a 42-year-old female from Harriman NY.

Upon arrival firefighters Brian Condon and Cortland Heyniger found that a male swimmer had safely made it back to the shoreline but a female swimmer continued to struggle in the surf.

The ocean’s roughness presented a challenge in locating the female but when a tidal push brought her closer to the shoreline, firefighter Christian Stevens was able to assist in bringing her to safety, Giberson said.

The female was unresponsive, Casey said. 

The Fire Department’s EMS unit transported both swimmers to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

“The firefighters and MONOC paramedics were able to revive the victim en route but she remains critical at this time,” Giberson said.

Officials have not released the victims’ names.

The Asbury Park Police Department is conducting an investigation, Deputy Chief David Kelso confirmed. 

The male swimmer advised the police that the two of them made their way into the water, chest deep, and began to swim around,” Casey said. “He then stated that they got caught in what he believed was a rip current. They attempted to swim back to shore but kept getting pulled further out into the water. The male stated he lost sight of the female and he was able to swim back to shore about knee deep before being assisted out of the water by a subject on the beach.”

As of early 5:17 a.m. Thursday, the female swimmer was still undergoing medical test, Casey said.

Giberson said the water rescue was the department’s second call of the day. A morning rescue for a distressed surfer resulted in that person making his way back to shore on his own.

This was the third water rescue since Sept 11.

“I can only repeat the message,” Giberson said. “Stay out of the water. The ocean will be very dangerous for a few days because of Jose and other storm systems. We do not want anyone in the water.”

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