Point Boro Rescuers and Coast Guard Practice Water Rescue in Brick

Point Borough and Brick rescue crews, the New Jersey State Police and U.S. Coast Guard conducted drills simulating a large water rescue off Windward Beach Thursday night.

The emergency responders, including Brick EMS, were tasked in the drill with rescuing eight people who were thrown from a boat following an accident in the Metedeconk River.

The drill involved numerous aspects of a rescue mission, including locating dummies representing accident victims, pulling them to safety, airlifting victims to a hospital and treating victims at the new Brick Police EMS Mass Casualty Response Unit.

The drill was organized and led by the Laurelton Fire Company.

"It went really, really well," said Laurelton Chief Bob Reynolds. "It was our first time ever drilling with the United States Coast Guard."

Reynolds said the drill illustrated the importance of a unified command, which was handled by Point Boro First Aid Squad on Thursday night.

Laurelton Fire members honed their surface rescue skills in the drill, while the Point Boro Underwater Recovery Team was tasked with recovering a submerged victim. U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers also practiced in the in-shore environment.