BRADLEY BEACH — The search for a swimmer who went missing Saturday night off of Bradley Beach has been suspended by the U.S. Coast Guard.

“Our hearts go out to the friends, families, and loved ones who are impacted by this tragic event. Coast Guard crews and our partner agencies worked together to search for this individual and it’s never an easy decision to stop searching," Capt. Scott Anderson, USCG deputy sector commander for the Delaware Bay said in a statement.

The 31-year-old man, identified by Bradley Beach Police Chief Leonard Guida as Julio Pierre, was first reported swept out to sea around 7 p.m. on Saturday. A search was launched using several Coast Guard water craft as well as a helicopter. The Coast Guard used a cutter to search throughout the night into Sunday morning.

New Jersey State Police, Bradley Police Department and Belmar Water Rescue Team were all part of the search effort, according to the Coast Guard.

Guida told NJ Advance Media that Pierre had come to the U.S. only a month ago.

"They came down here trying to beat the heat up north and it turned into a tragedy," Guida told the news organization.

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