Good Samaritans help rescue five from ‘swamped’ boat off NJ coast, officials say

Five people were rescued from a “swamped” boat off the New Jersey coast when Good Samaritans stepped in to help, officials said.

The boaters were found sitting on top of the hull of their vessel as it took on water about 3 miles east from Elberon, about a 50-mile drive south from New York City, the U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic said in a July 14 Facebook post.

A good Samaritan brought one of the boaters onto their vessel, and another good Samaritan on a different vessel helped rescue the other four before the Coast Guard sent a small crew out, officials said.

Then, the crew and a New Jersey State Police boat brought all five people back to shore, according to officials.

“When it comes to search and rescue teamwork is key,” the Coast Guard said in the post.

This story was originally published July 14, 2025 at 3:20 PM with the headline "Good Samaritans help rescue five from ‘swamped’ boat off NJ coast, officials say."

Natalie Demaree

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Natalie Demaree is a service journalism reporter covering Mississippi for McClatchy Media. She holds a master’s in journalism from Columbia Journalism School and a bachelor’s in journalism and political science with a specialization in African and African American Studies from the University of Arkansas.