In the early morning hours (approximately 0100) on this date Atlantic County was hit with a severe Storm, with wind gusts up to 74 MPH and blowing rain. 

Atlantic City Coast Guard Station reported recovering  a body, positively identified as victim #1.

Operator # 1 Advised that it is common for everone to meet at about 11:00 PM to go fishing.  After they met , the group departed in three vessels and proceeded to the Brigantine Bridge as they normally do.  After arriving in the area they began to fishing in calm weather conditions when one of the group got a call from an aunt notifing them that severe weather was moving into the area.  After the call the group decided to return to the dock.

Operator one then advised that he entered Beach thorofare headed toward Winchester Ave, where the dock was located.  The weather quickly turned severe. He stated that as he got near red channel marker #186, the wind and rain got so strong that the vessel was being blown backwards despite being operated at half throttle. The vessel had been blown completely around twice, each time taking water over the gunnel.

He advised that the victim went to the bow of the vessel and retrieved PFDs for each person on board.  The operator and witness #1 put the PFDs over thier heads but were unable to buckle them due to the high winds. Victim #1 did not put his on but only held onto it.  Victim # 1 then realized that the other two vessels were no longer in sight and became nervous.  He remained in the bow, searching with a flash light.  Another gust of wind struck the vessel, again pushing it violently sideways causing victim #1 to fall overboard.

The vessel was then pushed up against the marsh. Operator #1 and witness #1 then stepped onto the marsh and began searching for victim #1 while call "911".

Investigation revealed that due to weather conditions the exact location of the accident could not be determined. At 05:04 AM a Coast Guard Helo located the body and it was recovered by USCGsafeboat #25709 and transported to USCG Station Atlantic City where attempts to revive victim #1 were unsuccessful.
 
A post mortem was performed on the victim. The official cause of death was ruled drowning.

Atlantic City                 