The body recovered last week in Sea Isle City has been positively identified as the swimmer who disappeared in the ocean off Ocean City more than a month ago.
Law enforcement agencies, Sea Isle City Police, Ocean City Police, the New Jersey State Police and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office responded June 19 to the area of 72nd Street in Sea Isle City after a deceased male was discovered in the water.
Following an investigation involving the responding agencies and the Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, authorities confirmed the victim was the swimmer reported missing May 18 at the 10th Street beach in Ocean City.
The swimmer, a college student visiting Ocean City with friends for a day trip, disappeared after being swept from his boogie board by a wave. The incident prompted an extensive multi-agency search involving local police, the U.S. Coast Guard, New Jersey State Police, Ocean City Beach Patrol and numerous emergency responders.
Search efforts continued both on the water and along the shoreline as authorities worked to locate the missing swimmer. Despite the large-scale operation, no trace of him was found at the time.
The discovery in Sea Isle City came more than four weeks after the swimmer was reported missing. Officials have not released additional details about where or how the body was located. Authorities said the victim’s family has been notified and requested privacy as they continue to grieve.
The identification brings a measure of closure to a case that drew widespread attention across the Jersey Shore and prompted an outpouring of support from residents, visitors and first responders who assisted in the search.
Officials have not indicated whether any additional findings from the investigation will be made public. At the request of the family, authorities are withholding further information at this time.
