TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) — New Jersey will fly its flags at half-staff on Friday to honor a teenage lifeguard who was fatally struck by lightning at an Ocean County beach on Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy said.
Berkeley Township Beach Patrol lifeguard Keith Pinto, 19, of Toms River, died in a lightning strike at White Sands Beach in South Seaside Park Monday afternoon, police said.
United States and New Jersey flags will be flown at half-staff at state buildings on Friday, Sept. 3 to honor Pinto, Murphy said in a press release Wednesday.
We are devastated by the death of Keith Pinto, the 19-year-old lifeguard who lost his life when he was struck by lightning on the 21st Avenue Beach.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) September 1, 2021
Our prayers are with his family, friends, and fellow lifeguards. We will be lowering our flags in Keith's honor on Friday. pic.twitter.com/5I13ppsLeq
"I was devastated to learn of Keith's passing in a tragic incident earlier this week," the governor said in a statement. "He took on the selfless and great responsibility of protecting beachgoers at White Sands Beach.
"We mourn his loss and we will never forget his service to Berkeley Township and the many families that he kept safe," he added. "Our prayers are with Keith's family, friends, and his fellow lifeguards."
Pinto, an Ocean County College student, graduated from Toms River High School in 2020, the New York Times reported.
