An early morning search for a swimmer that reportedly vanished after entering the waters of Point Pleasant Beach has police investigating.
Details are continuing to develop, and police have not released much information regarding the incident as of 4:38 am, but according to on scene reports, police and search crews arrived in the 300 block of Ocean Avenue after receiving reports of a swimmer in distress before 2 am.
Arriving police units immediately requested a dive team to the scene where they conducted an intense search after police reportedly found about a dozen concerned onlookers and some evidence that a person may have entered the water.
A United States Coast Guard helicopter was called in for an aerial search while divers went through a vast area of the Atlantic Ocean.
It is believed that a female victim, in her mid 20's, entered the water during the early morning hours and did not return.
Search and rescue crews from several police departments ended their search at before 5 am after they could not locate the swimmer.
Police did not immediately confirm if there were any other victims/swimmers.
**UPDATE POLICE STATEMENT 5:57AM:** At 2:15am Point Pleasant Police received a report of a swimmer in distress. Officers from this department along with the US Coast Guard, The NJ State Police Marine Division, Point Pleasant Fire Department, and several surrounding municipalities began a search. The search is ongoing.
Developing