AVON-BY-THE-SEA, N.J., July 17 (UPI) — Divers recovered a body in the Shark River Inlet in New Jersey which they believe to be a 17-year-old boy who went missing there on Saturday.
Authorities have not identified the body publicly, but the Westfield, New Jersey teen who had been diving in the inlet was last seen Saturday afternoon.
Belmar police notified the U.S. Coast Guard about 5 p.m. Saturday that the teen was missing, 6ABC.com reported.
Rescue crews in a boat and a helicopter searched along with members of the Avon-By-The-Sea and Belmar police departments, which have jurisdiction over each side of the river. They recovered some of the teen’s belongings, but suspended the search Saturday and resumed it at sunrise Sunday. Shark River Inlet remained closed to maritime traffic throughout the night.
Avon resident Kathy O’Keeffe, who watched the rescue crews at work, wondered why anyone would be diving in the inlet, which typically has heavy boat traffic.
Also, she said, the weather turned bad Saturday afternoon.
“It was beautiful earlier today, we were good until about three o’clock and a thunderstorm came in for about 15 minutes,” O’Keeffe said. “Then about 4:30 or so, it let loose and we had a big storm.”
