Lifeguard Back at Work After Freak NJ Beach Accident
Working on a beach may be a dream come true for those who love water, but being a lifeguard is not as glamorous as the TV show “Baywatch” makes it seem. For an 18-year-old woman, a typical day at work at a New Jersey beach turned into a horror movie when she was impaled by an umbrella.
The freak accident happened on the morning of June 25 at Asbury Park’s 3rd Avenue Beach. First responders were called to the Jersey Shore to respond to calls stating that a young woman was trapped by a beach umbrella.
Fellow lifeguards found the young woman lying on the ground near the lifeguard stand with an umbrella stake through her left shoulder and sticking out the back of her arm by about a foot.
The accident happened when the lifeguard was setting up the umbrella. A gust of wind blew her off a lifeguard stand, causing her to fall. When she landed, the point end of the umbrella’s 1-inch metal pole went clear through, narrowly missing an artery.
First responders cut the umbrella stake off the woman so it would be easier to transport her to the hospital. The woman’s condition was unknown at the time, but she was conscious and doing OK when she was taken to the hospital.
Three weeks after the incident, the woman is back at work but not working as a lifeguard just yet. She will once she is medically cleared to do so but there is no exact return date at this time. For now, the college student at University of Wisconsin at Madison is reportedly checking for beach badges. This is the second summer at Asbury Park beach for the lifeguard, who is a New Jersey native. She knew she wanted to work there after spending time visiting as a child. She liked that it was a busy beach and there would be a lot of activity.
The young woman is still processing everything but is in good spirits. She is especially thankful for her four co-workers, all fellow lifeguards who rushed to her rescue.
Accidents caused by beach umbrellas are not as rare as you may think. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that around 3,000 people are hospitalized each year due to umbrella-related injuries, which are often caused by flying umbrellas. Umbrellas in windy conditions can result in serious injuries like lacerations, contusions, and even death.
Contact a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Workplace accidents do not always happen in a warehouse or an office. They can happen in non-environments such as beaches as well.
Workplace injuries can result in significant medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Injured at work? Get the help you need from a Morristown work-related accident attorney from The Law Offices of Michael P. Burakoff. We can help you understand your options for making a successful injury recovery. Call (973) 455-1567 or fill out the online form to schedule a consultation.
Source:
foxnews.com/us/teen-lifeguard-impaled-beach-umbrella-returns-work-after-freak-accident-pretty-good
