Dad who drowned at Jersey shore was FDNY veteran, daughter pulled from ocean
NEW YORK (PIX11) – A father who drowned Friday near Sylvania Avenue Beach in Avon-by-the-Sea, N.J. has been identified as FDNY firefighter Mark Batista.
In a statement to PIX11 NEWS, FDNY confirmed Batista a veteran, assigned to Engine Company 226 in Brooklyn, had lost his life while he and his family visited the Jersey Shore.
“We are heartbroken to learn about the death of Firefighter Mark Batista, who died Friday while swimming at the Jersey Shore,” a statement read. “Batista was a dedicated public servant who spent 15 years serving in the FDNY, as both an EMT and a firefighter. We join his family in mourning his tragic passing.”
The tragic incident occurred around 8:30 a.m.
A rescue team searched the waters for about 10 minutes before finding his daughter and pulling her from the ocean, according to police. Bautista, 39, was found submerged in the water around 10 a.m.
He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police said.