Off-duty Cape May Point lifeguard rescues girl after guards leave beach

CAPE MAY POINT, N.J. (WPVI) -- An off-duty Cape May Point lifeguard rescued an 11-year-old girl who was struggling in the water about 90 minutes after lifeguards had gone off duty Wednesday, according to officials.

Ryan Gibson, 19, a Cape May Point lifeguard, said he was on the beach with friends after work when he heard a girl screaming for help near the beach off Lehigh Avenue.

"It was kind of a coincidence that it all happened," Gibson said.

Gibson said he and his friends were preparing to play volleyball when they heard the cries.

"We were about to go play volleyball and we hear this little girl scream, 'Help! Help!' I looked at my friend, and I was like, 'Is that real? Is that someone screaming to us?'" Gibson said.

After realizing the distress call was real, Gibson said he immediately went to help.

"The girl started going around the rocks, and it was just my first instinct to go help," he said.

Gibson told bystanders to call 911 and swam to the girl. He pulled her onto the jetty and worked to calm her as they returned to shore.

"I was like, 'Take deep breaths, it's going to be OK. We're going to slowly go rock by rock back to shore," Gibson said.

When additional first responders arrived, two other swimmers were clinging to the rocks of the jetty. Officials said they were good Samaritans who had attempted to reach the girl but were unable to get to her.

"The current was really strong that day," said Chief Ben Swan of the Cape May Point Beach Patrol. "Really hard to fight. She was not a strong swimmer. We don't know how much longer she would've been able to stay afloat."

During an interview while Gibson was on duty, he was called into action again, helping bring in a woman who was swimming too close to the rocks.

Gibson said helping others is what he enjoys most about the job.

"I love the beach. I love helping people. It's the best job you can have," he said.

Officials said the 11-year-old girl was not injured but had swallowed a significant amount of water.

Cape May lifeguards go off duty after Labor Day weekend. Officials said they hope the incident serves as a reminder for people to stay out of the water when lifeguards are not on duty, especially as the summer season winds down.