SEASIDE HEIGHTS – A weekend jaunt to the Jersey Shore ends in tragedy for one family following an accident in the rough surf off Seaside Heights.
A man who was on the beach with his family decided to swim in the Ocean at the Fremont Avenue beach without a lifeguard present when he was pulled under by a dangerous wave.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has identified the victim as 44-year-old Amajeets Parmar of New Brunswick.
Parmar was with his wife and son on the beach for a weekend day trip.
Ocean County Scanner News was the first to report the incident. It happened at the Fremont Avenue beach.
Spokesman Al Della Fave tells Jersey Shore Online “the OCPO Major Crimes unit was dispatched to Fremont beach in Seaside Heights to conduct a death investigation. Upon arriving on the beach the undersigned met with Ptl. Greengrove and Sgt. Violante from the Seaside Heights Police Department. Also on scene was Det. Laudicina and Sgt. Burke from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI.”
The exact location was four blocks north of Casino Pier. The Asbury Park Press reported a number of eyewitnesses gathered on the boardwalk. News 12 New Jersey had a camera crew on the boardwalk that also showed a large crowd gathered to see what the commotion was about.
According to Seaside Heights Detective Steve Korman, “Upon officers arrival, they observed the victim face down in the water approximately 30 yards out from the shoreline. Three officers entered into the water reporting a strong rip current at the location where they had entered into the water.”
Police and rescue crews tried to administer CPR but it was too late.
Seaside Heights Police Chief Thomas Boyd said the man’s wife and young son were on the shore when it happened shortly after 7 p.m.
According to the Prosecutor’s office, the wife, Sukhpreet Parmar, had tried to convince her husband not to go into the surf but he insisted.
There were no lifeguards on duty at the time of the incident.
Police believe a strong wave may have broken the unidentified victim’s neck.
A full investigation is underway.
Due to Hurricane Florence, now downgraded to a tropical storm, there is a high risk of rip currents and a high surf advisory at all beaches along the coast of New Jersey.
