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Woman Impaled By Beach Umbrella On Jersey Shore

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — A freak accident on the Jersey Shore illustrated the danger of beach umbrellas in powerful winds.

London resident Margaret Reynolds, 67, was at Seaside Heights Monday afternoon when part of an umbrella pierced her right ankle and was driven completely through due to the "force of the wind."

Woman Impaled By Beach Umbrella
Police say a woman was impaled by a beach umbrella at the Jersey shore on July 16, 2018. (credit: Instagram @inster4coins/CBS2)

"It was a beautiful day and a gust of wind blew the umbrella," Reynolds told CBS2. "It was just an accident."

Borough Police Chief Tommy Boyd says fire crews had to use a bolt cutter on the umbrella to free the woman and put her in an ambulance.

Reynolds was brought to Jersey Shore Medical Center, where she was recovering late Tuesday.

Boyd says people often use a circular motion to secure their umbrella. Instead, he suggests using long strokes with two hands to dig the shaft at least 16 inches into the sand.

Police were investigating who the umbrella belonged to.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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