SPRING LAKE – The body of a swimmer lost to the surf on Sunday was found Wednesday morning.
Members of the New Jersey State Police, Spring Lake Police and U.S. Coast Guard along with other emergency agencies were involved with recovery efforts of 15-year-old Josiah Jerimiah Robison, Ewing, Mercer County, since he went missing around 2:45 p.m. Sunday.
Spring Lake Police Chief Ed Kerr said the teen was swimming off the Bright Avenue Beach in Spring Lake. Josiah and his 13-year-old sister experienced difficulty swimming in a rip tide current.
While a bystander pulled his sister out of the surf assisted by lifeguards, Josiah went missing.
Kerr said area police along the shore joined members of the State Police Marine Unit. the U.S. Coast Guard and Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office during the search.
Manasquan rescue vessels were also involved. Divers, numerous boats, around 100 lifeguards and a State Police helicopter scanned the coastline during the search period.
Kerr said that during the search, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department and the Spring Lake Police Department used their drones when the State Police helicopter and other aviation units were not in the air.
Spring Lake Police reported that a passerby spotted the teen’s body about a quarter-mile from where he vanished and called 911.
“Our hearts go out to his family,” Kerr said.
