8/31/2021- 10:25 a.m.
New Jersey – The Berkeley Township Police were called to the 21st Avenue Beach for a report of a lightning strike and when they got there, they determined that eight people, including four lifeguards, were either struck or injured from the residual strike, according to a release from the department.
One of victims, a Berkeley Township lifeguard, died from his injuries at the scene and the others were taken to local hospital for treatment.
This young person was out there every day protecting the lives of others,” Amato said in a statement. “Our lifeguard teams, like so many along the shore, develop special connections with our community throughout the summer, which makes this loss even greater.”
Gov. Phil Murphy offered his condolences to the family and friends of the lifeguard.
“Our hearts are with the family and friends of the young lifeguard killed by today’s horrific lightning strike on the beach in Berkeley Township, and we pray for a full recovery for those injured,” Murphy said in a statement.
He was knocked unconscious when he hit his head on the boat, his family said. He was resuscitated twice by fellow lifeguards and taken to a local hospital before being airlifted to Cooper University Medical Center in Camden, where he was in a coma with brain damage and multiple broken bones. He died the next night.
Norman Inferrera, a high school student from Phoenixville, was helping keep swimmers close to shore on Aug. 19 when his lifeguard patrol boat overturned in rough surf off Reading Avenue Beach, officials said.
Before Monday’s death, 17 people had been killed by lightning strikes in New Jersey during the past 20 years, with the latest happening on June 9 when a 70-year-old man was found unconscious and not breathing after being struck by lightning on the golf course at the Burlington County Country Club in Westampton.
Monday’s tragedy marked the second time in the last two weeks that a lifeguard died at the Jersey Shore.
