Bound Brook Man Drowns in Mining Site Lake

A Bound Brook man was pronounced dead by emergency responders after reportedly becoming tired during a swim in a former Manchester mining site over the weekend.

Juan A. Benitez, a 26-year-old from the Somerset County borough, was swimming in the lake at the Heritage Mineral Site off of Route 70 when his brother in-law called police at 2:53 p.m. Sunday to report that Benitez had become tired and began to call for help, said Capt. Lisa Parker.

Police said that the caller and another brother in-law tried to pull Benitez from the water but were unable to save him.

A water rescue team from the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department was able to locate Benitez in the water, though at this point he was "unresponsive and not breathing," Parker said. He was then taken to shore by boat and pronounced dead by MONOC paramedics.

The drowning is under investigation by Manchester police Detective Christopher Hemhauser, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Criminal Investigations Unit and the county Medical Examiner's Office.

Parker said that the site is a restricted area and signage is posted warning people to stay out.

"We do ticket and summons people for trespassing," she said. "It is a problem for law enforcement. It is restricted but people continue to use the area for recreational activities."