Avalon, United States - October 20, 2024 A dramatic rescue unfolded on October 20 at the annual “Battle at the Jetty” surf event hosted by the Cape May County Boardriders, after a powerful wave struck a group of fishermen on the rocks of Avalon Beach. In an incredible moment captured on video, 18-year-old nursing student and surfer Cooper Lysinger sprang into action, using his surfboard to guide one of the fishermen back to shore. "It reinforces the fact that I want to be a nurse and just go and help people," said Lysinger, a freshman at Stockton University, after the rescue. Though off-season conditions meant Avalon Beach Patrol was not on duty, witnesses confirmed that the fishermen returned safely to shore, expressing heartfelt gratitude to Lysinger and others who came to their aid. Danger at Avalon’s 9th Street beach is a familiar story. Over the past two summers alone, Avalon Beach Patrol Chief Matthew Wolf reported 172 rescues in that area. Surfers, however, are always watching out for one another—and sometimes, for others caught in the tide. Locals encourage beachgoers to heed seasonal risks and follow the rule, “If in doubt, don’t go out.”