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Lifeguard impaled by beach umbrella: ‘Tough young woman’

Umbrella was sticking out of woman’s back, officials say

File photo.

A New Jersey lifeguard was hospitalized Wednesday after she was impaled by a beach umbrella that ended up sticking out of her back by 1 foot, according to multiple reports.

The incident happened around 9:30 a.m. in Asbury Park as the lifeguard was setting up for the day.

“It was just a freak thing, as she was putting (the umbrella) in, the gust caught it, pulled it up, so when she grabbed it she was off-balance, she was on the top step of the bench, so she fell backwards off the bench and the umbrella came with her when she came down and landed on her arm,” lifeguard Joe Bongiovanni told 6abc.com.

The woman, 19 or 20 years old, was alert and conscious the entire time and was taken to a hospital, officials said.

[BELOW: Man honeymooning in Fla. killed by lightning on beach]


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