Beach patrol warns of rip currents after drowning in Seaside Heights, N.J.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. (WPVI) -- Lifeguards at the Jersey Shore are warning beachgoers about the danger of rip currents after two drowning deaths in New York and New Jersey on Monday.

In Seaside Heights, a 31-year-old man died while his 16-year-old son and three others were rescued from a rip current on an unguarded beach on Monday.

Also on Monday, in Manhattan Beach, New York, a 77-year-old woman died.

The risk for rip currents at the Jersey shore is lower than last week, but the threat isn't gone.

"A lot of swell and wind in the water and anytime that happens, the sand gets carved out and there's a lot more gullies and holes and it makes the rip current risk a lot higher," explained Lt. Ryan Dunn of Ocean City Beach Patrol.

"There's always risks in the ocean, so just stay shallow and keep an eye on your children," said Dunn.

Lifeguards in Ocean City say despite having several days of high rip current risk this summer, they've had only about a third of water rescues, compared to recent years.

One precaution they take is they put signs up on unguarded beaches to warn swimmers.

"They can see it's an unprotected beach, call 911 if there's a problem," said Dunn.

Still, beach patrol urges everyone to swim only near lifeguards and stay out of the water when they leave.

"We always try to go and set up camp right by the lifeguards," said Lindsay Murray from Pittsburgh.

Beachgoers, aware of the risks of the water, say they're still enjoying their vacations.

"We pay attention to the water. We have a 2-year-old grandson, so we have to keep an eye on everybody," said Martin McLaughlin from Illinois.