New Jersey’s Asbury Park.During a normal setup at the Asbury Park beachfront, a 19-year-old female lifeguard was impaled by a beach umbrella pole Wednesday morning, causing significant injuries, according to city officials.
When the lifeguard was fastening an umbrella to a lifeguard stand at roughly 9:30 a.m., he or she fell around five feet. The umbrella’s 1.5-inch aluminum pole punctured her left armpit during the fall and came out through her side.
The woman was discovered by emergency personnel on the ground next to the stand. While stabilizing her condition for transportation, firefighters carefully cut down the umbrella with a battery-operated saw.
Teams from Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support arrived on the scene. She was carried by EMS to the Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center after being moved off the shore in a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV). The pole was surgically removed from the woman.
Lifeguard released from hospital after surgery
Asbury Park Beach Safety Supervisor Joe Bongiovanni verified on Thursday that the lifeguard is recuperating at home with her family after being discharged from the hospital.
The fact that no essential organs were harmed is much appreciated, as is the prompt, expert response of our lifeguards, firefighters, and emergency responders. “Said Bongiovanni.”
The lifeguard and her family are still receiving assistance from the city. Regarding whether an internal assessment of beach safety procedures will be conducted, no updates have been given.
