Lifeguard horrifically impaled by umbrella at Asbury Park, NJ beach

ASBURY PARK — A Jersey Shore lifeguard is recovering at the hospital after being skewered by an umbrella on Wednesday morning.

It happened around 9:30 a.m., according to Asbury Park Fire Chief Kevin Keddy.

The female lifeguard was struck by the umbrella stake and it went through her upper left shoulder area, Keddy said to New Jersey 101.5.

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Her fellow lifeguards rushed to treat her until help arrived.

City firefighters found the victim at the 3rd Avenue beach with a 6-foot umbrella stake sticking out of both sides of her shoulder.

The firefighters, who are also trained EMTs, cut the stake on each side to make it more manageable.

Keddy said the victim was calm and conscious the entire time.

"She's one tough young woman," Keddy said.

She was having surgery at the hospital later Wednesday morning, according to Asbury Park Beach Safety Supervisor Joe Bongiovanni.

Bongiovanni said the victim is a rising college sophomore and that this is her second summer working as a lifeguard.

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"She has the heart of a lion," Bongiovanni said.

One lifeguard said the victim was setting up her umbrella when the wind took it and sent it through her arm, the Asbury Park Press reported.

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