CAPE MAY – A woman who was reported missing after entering the water at the unguarded Madison Avenue beach Thursday had not been found as of 11 a.m. Friday, officials said.
Cape May fire and rescue personnel were dispatched to the Madison Avenue beach at around 8 a.m. Sept. 4 on a report that a person went under the water and did not surface.
Upon arrival, first responders learned that the report was nearly an hour old, and no one in distress was found in the immediate vicinity. The missing woman was only described as being 30 to 40 years old.
A multiagency search began. Joining the Cape May Fire Department effort were the Coast Guard Fire Department, Air Station Atlantic City, Small Boat Station Cape May, Town Bank Fire Company Fire Boat 61, North Wildwood Fire Department Fire Boat 2, New Jersey State Police Marine and Aviation units, Cape May Beach Patrol, Cape May Police Department and private marine recovery agencies. Water searches with side-scan sonar went on till just after 2:30 p.m.
Search efforts are ongoing by Coast Guard and State Police Marine Services.
The Cape May Beach Patrol has closed all waters due to surf conditions.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Atkinson of the Cape May Police Department at 609-884-9508.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
