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Hero Dad Who Drowned Saving Stepdaughter At Jersey Shore Was Medic In National Guard
Mark Antwain Costin of Vineland lived and died a hero.
His final act of heroism came on Labor Day, while trying to save his 12-year-old future step-daughter from drowning at the beach in Strathmere.
Costin's fiancé, Melissa Metcalf, told 6abc they planned a last-minute trip to the beach in Cape May County on Labor Day, Sept. 4.
They brought Metcalf's three children, Logan, Riley and Reagan Gallagher, as well as one of her son's girlfriends. They also brought Costin's daughter, Jocelyn.
But while Mark was swimming with Jocelyn and Reagan, tragedy struck. His soon-to-be stepdaughter, Reag…
Parents Of Drowned NJ Toddler See Surge Of Support
The drowning of a New Jersey toddler has prompted a wave of support for his parents.
Witten Steigerwald, 18 months, was found in a pool in Spotswood and wasn't breathing around 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, officials in Middlesex County said.
Responders performed CPR, and Witten was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"No one is ever prepared for the loss of a child and as such no funeral preparations had been made," Witten's uncle, Scott Steigerwald, said on a GoFundMe page for his brother, Kevin, and Witten's mother, Renee.
"Their family is now suddenly havin…
Police ID Body Of Missing Swimmer, 24, Recovered From Jersey Shore Reservoir
Police have identified the missing swimmer whose body was recovered at a Monmouth County reservoir over the weekend.
Jose M. Urbina Contreras, 24, of Long Branch, had apparently walked through a trail in the park to reach the Swimming River reservoir within Thompson Park, which is located along the border of the park and Brookdale Community College, on Saturday evening, July 29, Middletown Police Chief Craig Weber said.
The swimmer was reported missing Saturday evening, July 29, launching a service within the Swimming River Reservoir at Thompson Park Point within Thompson Park.Monmouth …
NJ Woman Among Five Dead In PA Flood: Officials
Authorities have released the names of four more people who died in the flash flooding in Bucks County on Sunday, July 16.
They are:
Enzo Depiero, a 78-year-old man from Newtown
Susan Barnhart, a 53-year-old woman from Titusville, NJ
Yuko Love, a 64-year-old woman from Newtown
Linda Depiero, a 74-year-old woman from Newtown.
Katheryn Seley, a 32-year-old mom from Charleston, South Carolina, was previously confirmed as having died, Daily Voice reported.
Two of Seley's children, 9-month-old Conrad Sheils and 2-year-old Matilda Sheils, are the subject of a mass search…
Jersey Shore Swimmer, 19, Dies Week After Rescue
A swimmer from New York who was pulled from the ocean off Bradley Beach on Friday, July 7 died in the hospital on Thursday, July 14, authorities said.
Colin Martin, 19, of New York, was swimming to the shore of the Kent Avenue beach in Bradley Beach when he was rescued.
“The medics worked on him and were able to get a pulse back,” Bradley Beach Police Chief Leonard Guida told NJ Advance Media last week.
Martin was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition until his death, authorities said.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Colin…
Drowned Firefighter Mark Batista 'Always Put Family First'
Mark Batista's family was his whole world.
Batista, a firefighter for the FDNY, died while trying to save his daughter from drowning on Friday, June 9. Batista, 39, went into the waters off the Sylvania Avenue beach around 8:30 a.m. in an effort to save her, when she got caught in the rough surf.
The girl was saved by rescuers but Batista's body wasn't found until nearly 10 a.m., and he was pronounced dead at the hospital, despite life-saving efforts, police said.
A fundraiser, organized by Engine 226 in Staten Island where Batista served, has been set up to assist his family, which i…
Teen Boy Drowns, 5 Others Rescued From Non-Guarded NJ Beach
A 15-year-old died and five others rescued from a non-lifeguarded beach at the Jersey Shore Sunday, May 28, officials said.
Responders arrived at Sandy Hook's Beach B, located in the Gateway National Park Area, around 4:30 p.m., park spokeswoman Daphne Yun tells Daily Voice.
Of the six pulled from the waters, one refused medical attention, one was sent to Jersey Shore Medical Center, and three were rushed to Monmouth Medical Center.
The teen boy, whose identity was not released as of Monday morning, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Gateway National Park's EMTs and officers …
Police ID Man, 89, Drowned In Jersey Shore Lagoon
Authorities have identified the man found drowned in a Jersey Shore lagoon.
The elderly man was found floating face down along Laurel Boulevard, Lanoka Harbor, at 1:22 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28, according to Lacey Police Capt. Paul Sullivan Jr.
The man was identified as Robert Mcelvaney, 89, of 1025 Laurel Blvd., he said.
As of this time, the death does not appear to be suspicious, Sullivan said.
Upon patrol officers' arrival, the deceased man was located near the bulkhead at 1013 Laurel Blvd. and was pulled from the water by officers, Sullivan said.
The Lacey Township Detective Bureau, L…
Community Support Grows For PA Family Of Ocean City Drowning Victim
Community support is growing for the Pennsylvania family of a 56-year-old man who drowned in Ocean City.
Shawn Reilly, of Thornhurst, was on vacation with his wife, Nicole, and their 21-year-old son when he was pulled under by strong currents on Thursday, Sept. 8, DailyVoice.com reported.
Reilly's 21-year-old son jumped in to try and save him, but it was too late. A lifeguard was able to pull his son to safety but was unable to save Shawn.
John Mulderig of Jermyn, PA, has organized a GoFundMe that had raised more than $11,000 as of Friday, Sept. 16.
"Shawn was doing what he lov…
Nurse Details Attempted Rescue Of Jersey Shore Drowning Victim 'Way, Way Out'
At least three good Samaritans including an off-duty police officer, a nurse and a surfer helped try to rescue a drowning victim.
Dana Wolfanger of Wanaque tells Daily Voice she spotted a surfer trying to save Matthew Mauro, 46, on Wednesday, Sept. 14 off Ortley Beach. She then notice his body tossing in the strong currents "way, way out," she said.
"We were just sitting on the beach. We noticed people standing close to the shoreline," said Wolfanger, a nurse and former lifeguard.
The surfer spent about 10 minutes trying to swim this man into shore, but no one else was jumping in, Wol…
