Coast Guard, first responders save New Jersey fishermen on jetty

BARNEGAT LIGHT, N.J. (PIX11) - The ocean is beautiful and a beast.

Earlier this week, two fishermen on the edge of a jetty in Barnegat Light were trying to walk back to the beach when an ocean swell suddenly swallowed their path. 

From above, the Coast Guard came to their rescue, and from below, volunteer first responders kept them safe.

"They were pretty calm, clearly wanted to get off the rocks," said Hugh Shields of the Barnegat Light First Aid Squad.

Shields and Capt. Bob Selfridge went out on jet skis to rescue the fishermen who had climbed onto a tower.

"I give Bob the sign that I'm going and I jumped in, swam over," said Sheilds. "On my personal setup, I have goggles, helmet, life vest, flippers, so we were fully able to get in there."

Shields was in the water as a helicopter from the Coast Guard's Air Station in Atlantic City was dispatched to rescue the fishermen. 

"It was a pretty incredible experience," said Shields. 

"Couldn't have asked for a better guy swimming as a rescuer," said Selfridge, who mentioned they train with the Coast Guard for situations like this. "It's really our style -- not to let them sit and wait. Our style is to go get them."

Many love to fish from the jetty just a stone's throw from Barnegat Lighthouse, but Selfridge says the rescue underscores the risks involved with fishing on rocks.

"You're talking about slippery moss-covered, algae-covered rocks, seaweed, sharp barnacles," said Selfridge, "then you're talking about wave actions and you're talking about the tide changing."

First responders say this is a perfect example of how conditions can change in a minute—something to keep in mind as we get deeper into hurricane season.

"The water's warm, there's usually tropical activity in the ocean, so there's a lot of wave action," said Selfridge, "and you are dealing with a lot less lifeguards, if any lifeguards."