Body found in ocean a mile off Long Beach Island
The discovery followed a weekend during which at least three people drowned at Jersey Shore beaches.
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The body of a man was found floating in the ocean about a mile off Long Beach Island, authorities said Tuesday.
The discovery Monday morning followed a weekend during which three people drowned at northern Jersey Shore beaches and scores of others had to be rescued from rough surf and dangerous rip currents.
The man was identified Tuesday as Christopher Lucin, 30, of Belmar, who was last seen Sept. 19.
A Coast Guard boat found the body about 8:45 a.m. Monday and secured it until New Jersey state police could recover it and begin an investigation.
A state police spokesman, Lt. Theodore Schafer, said investigators were trying to determine how Lucin ended up in the water and were awaiting autopsy results.
At least 15 people have drowned at the Shore since Memorial Day, many of them victims of rip currents.
The National Weather Service has been warning of a high risk for rip currents for more than a week and says the danger will persist for some days to come. It also is warning of high surf Tuesday night through Wednesday night as Hurricane Maria moves northward in the Atlantic.
This story has been changed to correct the date the family last saw Lucin.