Police are continuing to search for a teen swimmer who went missing in Wildwood, New Jersey.
The incident unfolded around 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026, when a Wildwood police officer was flagged down by witnesses in regards to swimmers who were in distress in the water off the beach near Schellenger Avenue.
No lifeguards were on duty at the time, police said.
Wildwood firefighters and police from both Wildwood and North Wildwood responded to the scene. Three lifeguards from the Wildwood Beach Patrol ALERT Team responded as well. The first responders found several people in the surf.
A Wildwood officer entered the water and safely got three swimmers out of the ocean. Two of the swimmers were treated at the scene while a third swimmer was taken to Cooper University Cape Regional Hospital in stable condition.
However, a 14-year-old boy, now identified as Davoris Carter III, remained missing. He is a student at Delta School in Philadelphia, and was on a school trip at the time of this incdient.
NBC10 spoke to Davoris’ father, whose name is also Davoris Carter, who said he can’t understand why the students were allowed to go into the ocean at all.
“This is like a dream. No, better yet, it’s like a nightmare,” he said. “My son went somewhere with a school. With chaperones. And these so-called chaperones, at this time, with special needs children, should’ve been paying attention. Especially while they were on the beach. My son should not have been in that water, or them kids, without supervision. Did you see how them waves was yesterday? Nobody should’ve been in that water. But then it says no lifeguards on the weekdays. Why are you on the beach with special needs kids?”
The school’s director of education told NBC10 that they are truly devastated and are cooperating with the ongoing investigation. She added that the trip was “appropriately supervised with the right number of staff members,” six staffers and six children.
Other agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, New Jersey State Police, and the Marine Services Bureau have all joined in the search.
After searching for about two hours, beachside rescue operations ended on Monday while marine and aviation units continued to search the area.
As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, Wildwood police said that Davoris has still not been found.
“Search and recovery efforts will continue into tomorrow, June 3rd,” police shared.