A Young Man Drowns at the Jersey Shore While Lifeguards Are Present, and His Family Files a Lawsuit

A 21-year-old man from South Jersey drowned at Wildwood Crest and its beach patrol, and his family is suing them for carelessness in the death. The drowning happened almost two years ago, while lifeguards were on duty.

Joseph Volm, a two-sport star at Paul VI High School in Marlton, died on August 5, 2023, when he was carried away by a strong rip current at Hollywood Avenue beach in Wildwood Crest. This is what the Cape May County Superior Court case says. Files in court show that lifeguards did not tell beachgoers of dangerous water conditions in time to stop the accident.

Volm is remembered for wrestling and lacrosse. He was reportedly caught in the strong current after entering the sea. Rip currents are fast-moving water flows away from land. They can threaten even experienced swimmers. His family says that the borough’s beach patrol didn’t have enough lifeguards on duty that day and didn’t put up red flags to warn people before Volm went into the water.

Lifeguards pulled Volm from the water while he was still unconscious and tried CPR on him before taking him to Cape Regional Medical Center, which is now called Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional. He was later said to be dead.

This is the second time that Volm’s family has gone to court to hold the town responsible. After an earlier court attempt was dismissed due to missed deadlines, the family won their appeal by arguing that they couldn’t act on time since they didn’t have the autopsy report.

The claim seeks compensatory and punitive damages. Volm’s family says that better safety measures and warnings would have saved his life. The borough hasn’t said anything about the lawsuit in public, and the Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol Chief hasn’t answered calls for a statement either.

Sources:
Cape May County Superior Court records
National Weather Service – Rip Current Safety Guidelines