A 38-year-old man drowned at the Cedar Lake Wildlife Management area off Jackson Road on Aug. 29, according to the Monroe Township Police Department.
Police along with other emergency services were dispatched to the area at approximately 2:10 p.m.
The victim, identified as Rafael Martinez Pascual, a citizen of Mexico but residing in Pitman, was swimming with friends when he disappeared beneath the surface, police said. Rescue workers from numerous agencies responded in an effort to locate the victim. The search efforts included divers, specially equipped watercraft, a helicopter, and the use of drones. The victim was recovered by a rescue diver around 5 p.m. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene.
The area at the time was closed for public access and swimming is prohibited, per Wildlife Management Area regulations. This is the fourth victim to die by drowning in Monroe Township during the 2024 summer season, police said.
The investigation is being conducted by the Monroe Township Police Department, with the assistance of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office.
Assisting agencies included Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey Fish & Wildlife Conservation Police, New Jersey State Police, Washington Township Police Department (Gloucester County) New Jersey, Gloucester County Emergency Management, Gloucester County EMS, Williamstown Fire Department, Cecil Fire Department, Cecil Fire Company, Malaga Fire Company Water Rescue Team and New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
