Local Rescuers, Coast Guard Practice Water Rescue in Brick

Local rescue crews, the New Jersey State Police and U.S. Coast Guard drilled off Windward Beach Thursday night, simulating a large water rescue.

The emergency responders were tasked in the drill with rescuing eight people who were thrown from a boat following an accident in the Metedeconk River.

The drill involved numerous aspects of a rescue mission, including locating dummies representing accident victims, pulling them to safety, airlifting victims to a hospital and treating victims at the new Brick Police EMS Mass Casualty Response Unit.

The drill was organized and led by the Laurelton Fire Company, and included Brick Volunteer EMS as well.

"It went really, really well," said Laurelton Chief Bob Reynolds. "It was our first time ever drilling with the United States Coast Guard."

Reynolds said the drill proved the importance of a unified command, which in the drill was handled by Point Pleasant Borough EMS. Laurelton Fire members honed their surface rescue skills in the drill, while the Point Boro Underwater Recovery Team was tasked with recovering a submerged victim. U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers also practiced in the inshore environment.