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New York City is mourning the tragic loss of a firefighter who drowned on the Jersey Shore while on a brave mission to save his teenage daughter swept away by a rip current.

Mark Batista, a fifteen-year veteran of the New York Fire Department (FDNY), lost his life on Friday, according to authorities.

His daughter, fortunately, was successfully rescued.

Tragic Loss: The Frantic Rescue Operation

On Friday morning, around 8:30 am, the distressing call was answered by the Area Network of Shore Water Emergency Responders Team.

Their mission: to locate two swimmers in trouble at Sylvania Avenue Beach in Avon-by-the-Sea.

Akin to picking out a single face in a bustling city crowd, rescuers quickly located and saved the young girl, but Batista proved more elusive.

In a rescue operation resembling a military-like maneuver, divers, rescue swimmers, jet skis, boats, and drones collaborated in an hour-long search for the father.

At around 10 am, a US Coast Guard helicopter pinpointed a potential location. Like a lighthouse beam guiding lost sailors, this lead directed the rescue swimmers to Batista, who was then promptly removed from the water.

Despite the dedicated lifesaving efforts to revive the 39-year-old Teaneck resident, Batista was later pronounced dead at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

 A Legacy of Public Service

Batista's legacy is one of service. Amanda Farinacci Gonzalez, FDNY spokesperson, commented, "Firefighter Batista was a dedicated public servant who spent fifteen years serving in the FDNY, as both an EMT and a firefighter.

We join his family in mourning his tragic passing."

 A Warning to the Public

In light of the fatal incident, the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office issued a plea reminiscent of a weather alert, urging the public to exercise extreme caution in the water.

They specifically warned against entering the water when lifeguards are off-duty, echoing the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Batista's death.

At the time of the incident, the beach was without its usual lifeguard watch.

The official cause of Batista's death is yet to be released, and the Avon-by-the-Sea Police Department is currently investigating the incident.