Fisherman Drowns off Avon Jetty

[Pfishingruven]

Avon police seek identity of drowning victim

AVON — Police are working to confirm the identity of a man who drowned after falling off a jetty about 11 a.m. Wednesday, said Police Chief Terry Mahon.

Someone saw the man fall into the water and called 911, which led to the Area Network Shore Water Emergency Response team coming to the scene, Mahon said. The victim is believed to have been fishing when he fell into the water, police said.

The search for the man by the scuba divers, firefighters, first aid squad members and police officers was assisted by two good Samaritans, who helped bring the man to shore after he was located, Mahon said. The names of the two were not immediately available, Mahon said.

The victim was in the water about 10 minutes before the searchers located him and brought him to shore.

He was placed in an Avon First Aid Squad ambulance and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation was performed while he was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Mahon said.

-- Margaret F. Bonafide

http://app.com/article/20081105/NEWS/81105084

Absolutely horrible !  ...And he hasn't even been ID'd yet!  The dangers of such a fun recreational sport.  One wrong move and you could be gone...hopefully someone notices him missing and ID's him.  Prayers to him and his friends and family.

It is SO IMPORTANT to be safe out there and let someone know where you are, when you are going and when you are due back!  Please, let this be the only tragedy this Fall into Winter and for the rest of 2008 and for 2009 !

 

[kezsr]

thats sad,go out for some fishing and lose your life.thoughts and prayers to this man and his family.

[IrishAyes]

Very sad. Prayers go out to his family and friends.

[ped579]

In any case it is so sad one a fun day turns into a tragedy.  Our prayers go out to the family and friends.  I hope he is ID'ed soon. 

That is why I don't go any where near the jetties any more after my hip surgery.  I don't feel comfortable out there any more.

Know your limits...

[Still Running]

Very Sad, sometimes we all forget where we play is dangerous and it happens fast.

[rugman]

Very sad. Guys stay off the jettys .So sad

[Pfishingruven]

AVON — Police have identified the recreational fisherman who they believe drowned when a wave washed over the jetty and knocked him into the Shark River Inlet Wednesday morning.

Kevin S. Hodge, 47, of East Brunswick, died Wednesday, said Police Chief Terry Mahon police.

He was among five or six men who were fishing, and he was the furthest out on the jetty, police said. Police believe a wave crashed over the jetty and knocked him into the water.

One fisherman had a cell phone and he dialed 911. Two Good Samaritans were among those who jumped into the water to try to save Hodge, police said.

They were able to get him to the water's edge, near the jetty, and with help from police, and other members of Area Network Shore Water Emergency Response (ANSWER) Team, he was pulled from the inlet, police said.

Hodge was brought to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was pronounced dead at 11:56 a.m., said Mahon.

Michelle Sahn

http://www.app.com/article/20081106/NEWS/81106008

[Hotrod]

Very sad...

[Pfishingruven]

It is a real tragedy!  It sounds like it happened so quickly too...there were other guys who witnessed it, called 911 and then tried to save him.  Wonder if something else happened, besides drowning...hit his head on a rock, had some type of problem before being washed into the water, etc...either way it is sad and a horrible tragedy!

Prayers to his family and friends!

 

[Ramtough]

Thoughts and prayers are with his family.

[Hunter 2]

Wow, thats really makes you think twice about safety while surf fishing.

[Bucktail]

Definitely sad.  

Those jetties are not to be taken lightly.  I knew a guy who fell off the south jetty at BI.  It happened to be during an outgoing tide on a cold, late night in the fall.  He came in the B&T the next day with cuts, scrapes and bruises all over his face, neck, chest, hands and arms from clawing his way back onto the rocks.