A father and 15-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York died over the weekend while trying to save his daughter from getting swept into the ocean.
Mark Batista, a 39-year-old firefighter from Teaneck, New Jersey, drowned while attempting to rescue his 15-year-old daughter from a rough surf on a Jersey Shore beach.
Rescuers from the Area Network of Shore Water Emergency Responders (ANSWER) were called to the Sylvania Avenue Beach in Avon-by-the-Sea around 8.30am on Friday morning.
They were able to quickly reach Batista’s daughter and pull her from the water. She was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
However, there was no sign of her father, who was pulled out to sea.
Around 10.00am that morning, a United States Coast Guard helicopter located a body in the water about 50 feet from the coastline.
Rescue swimmers from ANSWER were able to recover missing man from the water. He was treated by EMTs at the scene and at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, but was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
‘Our deepest condolences go out to the family of the victim during this difficult time,’ ANSWER said in a statement.
The brave father was later identified by the FDNY as veteran firefighter Mark Batista. His cause of death is still under investigation.
‘FF Batista was a dedicated public servant who spent 15 years serving in the FDNY, as both an EMT and firefighter,’ the FDNY said in a statement posted on Twitter. ‘We join his family in mourning.’
‘In the wake of this morning’s unfortunate incident in Avon where a man drowned while trying to rescue his daughter after she was caught in rough surf, we once again caution all to please NOT go in the water when there are no lifeguards on duty,’ the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office said.
Lifeguard shifts start at 9.00am in Avon-by-the-Sea, less than 30 minutes after Batista’s tragic drowning.
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