Bereaved Forked River Family Mourns 23-Year-Old Killed By Rip Current
A Forked River man who died after being caught in a rip current off Long Beach Island is being remembered for his kindness, laughter, and generous spirit.
David Maldonado-Ocelotl, 28, was swimming with friends off East 21st Street in Ship Bottom when four people were caught in a rip current at approximately 2:28 p.m. on Friday, June 5, according to the Ship Bottom Police Department. He was found in the water, unconscious and not breathing, and pronounced dead at the hospital.
A GoFundMe organized by Ruby Ramirez for the Ocelotl family had raised nearly $17,000 as of Tuesday, June 9.
"David…
First Time Belmar Beach Trip Ends In Tragedy, Report Says: Jersey City Teen ID'd As Victim
A 13-year-old girl who drowned off a Belmar beach Friday evening, Aug. 15, has been identified as Sameeha Sultana, according to the Muslim Center of Middlesex County and NJ Advance Media.
Sameeha, of Jersey City, was on a trip organized by Young Muslims of Jersey City, her mother, Ishrath Parveen, tells NJ Advance Media.
She said Sameeha and her 12-year-old sister “weren’t strong swimmers” but had really wanted to visit the Jersey Shore because they had never been. The group arrived around 5:30 p.m., just after lifeguards went off duty, her mother told the outlet.
At 6:36 p.m., Belmar…
Triathlete, 37, Dies During Swim At Kinnelon Lake, Authorities Say
A 37-year-old teacher and mother of four died while competing in the swimming portion of a triathlon at a North Jersey lake over the weekend, Daily Voice has learned.
The incident involving 37-year-old Hannah Merlucci, of Kinnelon, happened on the morning of Saturday, July 19 at Fayson Lakes, according to Meghan Kbab, a spokeswoman for the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.
Lifeguards spotted a female swimmer unresponsive in the water, swam out to her, and brought her back to shore, Knab said.
CPR was immediately initiated. Emergency medical personnel arrived shortly after and transported …
Cosby Breaks Silence On Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Death:'It Felt Like Losing Ennis All Over Again'
The death of Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner continues to send shockwaves through fans, colleagues, and family — including Bill Cosby, who has publicly mourned the loss of the actor he called “my son.”
Warner, 54, drowned while swimming during a family vacation in Costa Rica on Sunday, July 20, authorities and multiple outlets confirmed. He was best known for playing Theo Huxtable, the only son of Cliff and Clair on the iconic NBC sitcom.
“It felt the same way,” said Cosby’s longtime spokesperson Andrew Wyatt, comparing the news to the 1997 murder of Cosby’s real-life son, Ennis, in st…
Sergio Ayala-Vilchis, Drowns In Chadds Ford While With Woman He Met At Nightclub: PSP
A man who drowned in Brandywine Creek has been identified as Sergio Ayala-Vilchis, 21, who had gone swimming with a woman he met at a nightclub the night before, Pennsylvania State Police announced on Monday, July 21.
The pair met at a Delaware club on Saturday, July 19, and went to the Brandywine Creek in Chadds Ford, Delaware County on Sunday morning to swim, according to Trooper Paul Holdefer.
Around 11:11 a.m., both entered the water near State Route 1 west of Mill Road and swam toward the center of the creek, police said. That’s when Ayala-Vilchis, a citizen of Mexico, began to panic i…
Harmful Algae Blooms, Bacteria Close These Putnam County Beaches
Several popular swimming areas in Putnam County have been temporarily shut down due to harmful algae blooms and elevated bacterial levels.
The closures affect a dozen lakes and parks across Putnam Valley, Carmel, Kent, Patterson, Philipstown, and other parts of the county, just as summer heats up and residents seek relief from rising temperatures.
The affected locations include:
North Beach, Lake Peekskill in Putnam Valley – Closed since June 5 due to harmful algae blooms;
Lake Casse Beach, Carmel – Closed June 26 for elevated bacteria;
Patterson Veterans Beach, Pa…
From Pool To Podium: Darien Boy, 11, Raises Thousands For Research While Chasing Olympic Dream
Shep Jennings may be a kind, soft-spoken, and well-mannered 11-year-old, but in the water, he’s unstoppable, winning awards, accolades, and the respect of the Connecticut swimming community.
But Shep wants to use his skills in the water to help doctors fight cancer.
The Darien fifth grader is channeling his love of swimming into raising money for Swim Across America, held Saturday, June 21, in Stamford. He’s already helped raise more than $9,000 for cancer research, making him one of this year’s top individual fundraisers for Swim Across America – Fairfield County.
The organization is stil…
Nissequogue Swimmer, 63, Drowns: Police
A Long Island man died after being pulled from the water in Nissequogue, police said.
Eric Soloff, 63, of Nissequogue, was found unresponsive off Long Beach Road on Sunday, June 8, around 6:41 p.m., according to the Suffolk County Police Department.
Officers from the Fourth Precinct and the Marine Bureau had responded to a 911 call about a swimmer in distress. Soloff was pulled from the water a short time later, police said.
He was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the apparent drowning…
Darlington County Park Returns With Swimming, Splash Zone, Entry Fees Starting At $3
Darlington County Park’s swimming lakes are opening up for the summer on Memorial Day weekend. And yes, the Wibit Splash Zone is returning, too.
Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco announced that swimming at Darlington Lake will officially reopen on Saturday, May 24 at 10 a.m. The upper lake, home to the park’s popular Wibit Splash Zone obstacle course, will also reopen for all visitors over 39 inches tall, for an extra fee.
The lakes will be open weekends only from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday, June 22, and will operate daily starting Monday, June 23 through Labor Day, officials said. …
'Radiant Light’: 20-Year-Old Dancer From Mount Kisco Remembered After Death
The Westchester community is mourning the tragic loss of Julianna “JJ” Sannino, a talented 20-year-old dancer, student, and aspiring teacher whose vibrant spirit touched all who knew her.
Sannino died on Thursday, April 3, in Fairfield, Connecticut, at the age of 20, according to her obituary. Her cause of death was not made public.
In the weeks since her death, her family, friends, and countless others whose lives she impacted are remembering her as creative, compassionate, and full of enthusiasm.
Known as “JJ,” Sannino was born in Manhattan on August 12, 2004, and raised…
