Belleville man, 23, who drowned in Spring Lake, identified

SPRING LAKE−A 23-year-old Belleville man who died swimming in the ocean May 4 has been identified.

Wilmer Lalvay was found lying facedown in the surf on an unguarded beach by police responding to the call of a drowning swimmer shortly after 2 p.m. that Saturday.

Attempts were made to save Lalvay at the scene before he was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was pronounced dead, officials said.

Police from Spring Lake Heights, Belmar and Sea Girt, Spring Lake First Aid Squad, Spring Lake Fire Department, and the SMART Team of off-duty lifeguards assisted on the call.

An attempt is being made to raise money for funeral expenses and to help repatriate Lalvay's body to his native Ecuador. A GoFundMe account raised $1,855 as of Thursday evening out of a goal of $10,000.

More: Belmar drowning victim identified; third dead from Jersey Shore Labor Day weekend

Messages left by the Asbury Park Press with the fund organizer, identified as a cousin of Lalvay's, were not returned.

Ken Serrano covers breaking news, crime and investigations. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or kserrano@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Obituary of Belleville man, 23, who drowned in Spring Lake released