Frank John LaFerrara

Frank John LaFerrara rescued a girl from drowning, Ocean City, New Jersey, October 5, 2025. The girl struggled to swim amid a rip current in the Atlantic Ocean about 100 feet from shore near a rock jetty, where the water was at least 6 feet deep. LaFerrara, 73, grocery store clerk, was on the beach nearby and saw her in distress. He ran a short distance into the water, then dived and swam toward her as she was pulled farther out from shore. He reached a point about 10 feet from her and stopped to catch his breath, then reached her at a point about 200 feet from shore, where the water was about 20 feet deep. The girl panicked, jumped on LaFerrara and pushed down on his shoulders, submerging him. He resurfaced, and to avoid being submerged again, he grasped her hands and pushed her from his body while keeping a hold on her. He then told her to calm down and that he would get her to safety. While holding one of the girl’s hands, LaFerrara swam away from the jetty, toward shore. On their course to safety, waves submerged the girl at least twice and she resurfaced. Towing the girl, LaFerrara reached wadable water, and another man responded with a flotation device. LaFerrara and the man then walked the girl to shore. The girl was checked at the scene by paramedics but did not require further treatment. LaFerrara was short of breath following the rescue but did not require medical treatment. He recovered.

2025-0000344-10576