Police are warning swimmers to use caution following a drowning incident Friday evening that claimed the life of a 13-year-old.

At approximately 6:36 p.m., the Belmar Police Department received several 911 calls reporting a swimmer in distress off the 8th Avenue beach. When officers arrived, one individual had already exited the water, but another juvenile swimmer was still missing.

Belmar Water Rescue units entered the ocean to search for the teen. At about 7:29 p.m., the victim was located unresponsive in the water off the 7th Avenue beach.

The swimmer was removed from the water, where life-saving efforts were performed by Belmar lifeguards, Belmar EMS, Wall Township EMS, and Hackensack Meridian Paramedics. The victim was then transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where they were pronounced deceased.

The incident is under investigation by the Belmar Police Department. Due to the victim’s age, their identity is not being released at this time.