Body found in Ocean City believed to be Hunting Park teen

Authorities in Ocean City, N.J., have recovered a body from the ocean believed to be that of a Hunting Park teen who disappeared after he and his friends got swept into the sea by a riptide June 29.

Corinthian "Cory" Hammond, 14, went swimming with friends off the Ninth Street jetty about 6:45 p.m. that day, after lifeguards had left their posts for the day. All got caught in the riptide, as did some Good Samaritans who tried to save them. A passer-by called 9-1-1 and the Beach Patrol Rapid Response Team, stationed at 12th Street, rushed to the scene and rescued 14 people.

When authorities realized Hammond was missing, firefighters and beach patrol divers and swimmers canvassed the sea and jetty using ropes and rescue gear, while Ocean City firefighters and police marine unit and U.S. Coast Guard hopped on jet skis and boats to search deeper waters.

A boater reported seeing a body floating in the ocean just south of the Ocean City Longport Bridge about 12:30 p.m. Thursday, police said. Coast Guard and police marine crews recovered the body and the Cape May County Medical Examiner's Office autopsied the body. A staffer there declined to comment on the case today, and police declined to release any further information today.

Hammond's mother Tasha sat vigil on the beach in the days before his body was found. She told reporters that he was a recent graduate of Grover Washington Jr. Middle School and had tagged along with a friend to the beach to celebrate his move from Philadelphia to Ocean City.

Swimming is prohibited on Ocean City beaches after 5:30 p.m. on Sundays. But enough people ignore the prohibition that the beach patrol created a Rapid Response team several years ago; the patrol, which operates 5 to 8 p.m. in the summer months, has made countless rescues, police said.

"We discourage people from swimming after-hours and to only swim at guarded beaches," Ocean City Fire and Rescue spokesman Chief Chris Breunig said in a statement.