Belmar Responders Honored for Water Rescues

Belmar's governing body and police chief on Wednesday honored five of the borough's first responders for saving the lives of several distressed swimmers earlier this beach season. 

Special Officers Lawrence Kelly and Brian Poppert, Water Rescue Squad members Brian Allen and Mark Spagnulo and George Komitas of the Belmar First Aid Squad were presented special resolutions from Mayor Matt Doherty and honorable Lifesaving pins from Chief Thomas Palmisano on behalf of the Belmar Police Department for their roles in two separate incidents earlier this year. 

Komitas, who Doherty said has previously saved several other distressed swimmers during his tenure on the First Aid Squad, was honored Wednesday for his role in saving two swimmers May 19 near the Fifth Avenue beach. 

Komitas responded to the scene with other members of the First Aid Squad and dove into the water to rescue both swimmers, who were brought ashore and treated safely, Doherty said. 

"This is not the first time George (Komitas) has saved lives in Belmar," Doherty said. 

Kelly, Poppert, Allen and Spagnulo were each awarded the special honors for their joint effort on June 14, when they saved two distressed swimmers spotted in the water just off 10th Avenue beach. 

Special Officers Kelly and Poppert were patrolling the boardwalk when they spotted the swimmers, Doherty said. 

The officers quickly called for backup and, once it arrived, dove into the ocean with Water Rescue Squad members Allen and Spagnulo, with other Belmar Police officers standing by, Doherty said. 

The swimmers were pulled from the water and treated by the Belmar First Aid Squad and Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Doherty said. 

The five men were each "recognized and honored for their heroic efforts in saving the lives of two distressed swimmers," Doherty said.