A 39-year-old swimmer died Tuesday after being pulled from the ocean at an unguarded beach in Lavallette, police said.

Authorities arrived at the New York Avenue beach shortly before noon after receiving a report of a swimmer in distress, said Lavallette Police Chief Christian LaCicero.

The swimmer, a Totowa resident, was found partially submerged in the ocean roughly 25 yards from shore, police said.

Rescue swimmers from the Lavallette and Seaside Heights fire departments entered the ocean and brought the victim to shore, where resuscitation efforts immediately began, police said.

The man was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was pronounced dead at 12:41 p.m., LaCicero said.

The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin,

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