An off-duty New York City firefighter visiting the Jersey Shore with his family drowned while trying to rescue his teenage daughter from rough surf. “We are heartbroken to learn about the death of Firefighter Mark Batista,” the FDNY said in a statement after the Avon-by-the-Sea tragedy. Crews were able to pull out the daughter but by the time they located Batista, he was dead. No lifeguards were on duty at the time.
