Around 3 p.m., the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, on Twitter, said “operations in recovery of (the) swimmer at Sandy Hook have ceased”.
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The 25-year-old man was found in the water near Lot C at Sandy Hook Beach, one beach over from where he vanished Wednesday. The search is expected to resume Friday.
The missing swimmer was seen in distress in the water around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The victim and his girlfriend had been in Area B, an unguarded beach that is a breeding ground for endangered species such as the plover piper bird.
Authorities spent hours looking for the man before suspending the search.
The National Park Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, NYPD aviation, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police, and rescue workers from Middletown, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, and Seabright, all responded to the scene.
Gateway National Recreation Area officials often remind beachgoers to follow the park’s safety guidelines. Emergency crews used side-scan sonar, which effectively searches large areas.
In Sandy Hook, officials are especially concerned about people swimming in unprotected areas.
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This is the third time a swimmer has needed rescue this week in the Gateway area, officials said.
