Special Needs Teen Missing After Disappearing Off New Jersey Beach During School Trip

A 14-year-old special needs boy from Philadelphia remains missing after disappearing in the ocean off a Wildwood, New Jersey, beach on Monday during a school field trip, authorities said.

Emergency crews were called shortly before 1:30 p.m. after witnesses reported swimmers in distress near Schellenger Avenue off Morey’s Pier, the City of Wildwood Police Department said in a news release. An officer went into the water and pulled three swimmers to safety. One was taken to a local hospital in stable condition, while the other two were treated at the scene.

However, the fourth teen, identified by family members as Davoris Carter, did not resurface and was declared missing. No lifeguards were on duty at the time of the incident, which police said is typical for weekdays during the season.

The missing boy’s grandmother, Kenya Pippen, told WPVI that a family member had been accompanying Carter on the trip but briefly stepped away to get food and did not realize the teen had gone into the water. She said the four children in the ocean at the time were swimming toward a flag.

“Every child that went to the beach has a one-on-one because they're special needs,” Pippen said. “As far as I know, no staff member got into the water with any of the children.”

Strong currents complicated the initial rescue effort, Wildwood Fire Department Chief Ernie Troiano III told WPVI.

"The water was running pretty strong north to south when we went down there, so our rescue efforts were focused on that. We took into consideration the tide cycle, the way the currents were running," Troiano said.

Pippen claimed Carter entered the water fully clothed and did not get the opportunity to change into his swim trunks. His mother was captured in WPVI footage clinging to his swim trunks she reportedly found onshore.

Search efforts for Carter involved multiple departments, including the U.S. Coast Guard, which used boats and helicopters to scan waters about 500 yards offshore near Morey’s Piers. New Jersey State Police also used drones and all-terrain vehicles to cover both shoreline and nearby terrain.

After about two hours of coordinated searches along the beach, officials called off shoreline efforts Monday night. However, boats and aircraft kept searching offshore waters as the operation continued.

While the search for Carter is going, his grandmother remains frustrated with the lack of adult supervision on the school trip.

"The fact that only one staff member got into the water when there were several adults standing there," Pippen said. "He said maybe they were scared. If you're scared of water, you don't let children in the water unsupervised, going that far out, not calling them back when they get out of your eyesight."

Pippen continued, "I think it's a disgrace and somebody will be held accountable, but none of this can bring back my grandson. My grandson has been missing. It's cold here. He's been gone for hours. He doesn't deserve this. He's just a kid. He was supposed to graduate on Wednesday."

The Independent has contacted the City of Wildwood Police Department and the Coast Guard for comment.