Lavallette Beach Badges Maintain Record Pace; Lifeguards Mark Over 100 Rescues

Lavallette life boat. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

The 2021 beach season is one of the busiest on record in Lavallette, with beach revenue serving as proof.

As of last week, the borough has generated $1,100,986 in beach badge sales for the 2021 season, compared with $1,093,000 for the same period last year – a record-breaking season. At the current pace, it is likely Lavallette will break its own record this year as officials say the borough often gets a major uptick in beachgoers in the beginning of August, then experiences a slow period before last-minute daily purchases on the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Officials also recognized the borough’s lifeguard squad for their heroic work this season. At Monday night’s meeting of the borough council, Councilman Michael Stogdill said the guards have eclipsed the 100 save mark already this season.

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In all, the guards have responded to 100 swimmers in distress – “People who aren’t necessarily drowning, but are getting pulled out by undergoes and riptides,” Stogdill explained – and eight full rescues where a person was in severe distress, indicating an immediate risk of drowning. There have also been eight major EMS calls to the beach where patients have had to be transported using special all-terrain equipment.