Deal Police and firefighters have recovered the body of Ocean Township man who was surfing off a local beach.
Deal Police Captain Earl Alexander said the body Kevin McGarry, 42, was found floating next to the rocks on the jetty at Whitehall Avenue beach on Wednesday afternoon.
"While there were no obvious signs of trauma, an autopsy will be conducted today (April 12th) to determine the cause of death and the investigation remains open," Captain Alexander said.
Police received a 911 call at 4:16 p.m. reporting a possible surfer in distress near the jetty at the Roosevelt Avenue Beach. Deal Police, Deal Fire Department, Deal EMS, and MONOC Paramedics all responded to the scene and found McGarry floating face down attached to a surf board approximately 200 yards off the beach.
McGarry was pronounced dead minutes after Deal EMS and MONOC paramedics arrived on scene.
Captain Alexander said McGarry was apparently surfing alone and may have been an inexperienced surfer according to his family members.
"The major crimes bureau of the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office along with the NJ State Police Marine Unit and Monmouth County Medical Examiners Office all responded and are working jointly with Detective Brian Egan of the Deal Police Detective Bureau," Captain Alexander said.
