UPDATE: Ocean County Medical Examiner Rules Missing Swimmer's Death Accidental

by Patricia A. Miller

An autopsy conducted by the Ocean County Medical Examiner's Office has found that a French man who went missing in the surf off Island Beach State Park died of accidental drowning.

Authorities were fairly certain that the body found by a fisherman just north of A-20 early Saturday morning was that of Nicholas Guilhote, 25, even before the autopsy.

But only the Medical Examiner can make the determination, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Al Della Fave said on Sunday.

Guilhote entered the water on an unguarded beach near the A-20 section of the park - about 7.7 miles in from the entrance gates shortly before noon on Friday. Island Beach lifeguards, the Coast Guard and park police searched for him for hours.

Friday was a difficult day for the lifeguards and staff at Island Beach State Park, as they struggled to cope with other numerous ocean rescues and continued to search for the missing man, Area Supervisor Ray Bukowski said.

The park's two bathing beaches were closed for several hours shortly after noon at the height of the search, since so many guards were needed to assist, Bukowski has said.