AVALON, N.J. – Ten people were rescued Wednesday when a sailboat crashed into the rocks of a jetty in Avalon, New Jersey.
According to Avalon Beach Patrol Chief Matt Wolf, a mayday call was dispatched about 11 a.m. local time.
Video showed the yellow sailboat in the water before disaster struck.
The video cuts to the sailboat in distress, as it’s rocked by large waves and pushed into the jetty.
The sailboat was attempting to go out of the inlet, but the waters were too rough, Wolf said.
Wolf said the boat attempted to turn around, but winds from the northeast pushed the boat into the rocks.
Avalon Beach Patrol along with EMS and water rescue swimmers were sent to help the 10 people aboard the boat before it sank.
Wolf mentioned that the water conditions were too perilous for rescue swimmers to enter, prompting them to use a jet ski to help bring the individuals, all equipped with lifejackets, to safety.
In another part of the video, Wolf’s team is seen arriving on jet skis to assist as the boat is caught against the rocks and starting to sink. People’s heads can be seen bobbing in the turbulent waves as they wait for rescue.
Wolf described the sailboat as being “pinned against the rocks” as it was sinking.
The people rescued were very upset, Wolf said. “They were swimming for their lives.”
“It was a really, really dangerous situation,” Wolf said.
He said all 10 people made it to safety and no one was injured.
