Woman, Child Drown At Jersey Shore

NORTH WILDWOOD, N.J. - Officials suspect rip currents are to blame for the drowning deaths of a woman and a child at the Jersey shore. Another child was rescued off the north end of North Wildwood Tuesday.

Watch the reports by Fox 5's Katherine Creag

AP Report: Victim Identified in Drowning

NORTH WILDWOOD, N.J. (AP) -- Police have identified an adult who drowned in strong ocean currents off a popular southern New Jersey beach resort as a 27-year-old South Carolina woman.

North Wildwood police said Wednesday that Jamilah Watkins, whose hometown was not immediately available, and a 15-year-old girl from Middletown, Conn., died while swimming after lifeguards went off duty. Another child was rescued nearby.

Officials suspect strong rip currents -- fast-moving belts of water that can pull weak swimmers away from shore -- were to blame.

The Coast Guard and police say the victims were in the water just south of the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse shortly before 6 p.m. when they were reported in distress.