A woman on vacation with her family in North Wildwood drowned Tuesday when she tried to save her three children from dangerous rip currents, authorities said.

The 49-year-old woman, whose name was withheld, ran into the ocean when the children ages 8, 10 and 19 began having trouble about 3 p.m. at the 18th Avenue beach, according to police and fire officials.

The mother was calling out to them to come back and when she saw they were having trouble, she jumped into the water, said Fire Chief Dominick J. McClain.

The woman picked up the two youngest children both boys in the breakers and carried them to shore, McClain said.

The 19-year-old daughter continued struggling in the water and the mother apparently went back in after her, the chief said.

Rescuers arrived moments later and pulled the teenager out of the water. The mother was found unconscious about 150 yards from the shoreline, according to the police and fire departments.

Emergency responders began life-saving measures as they took her to Cape Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, according to the chief.

McClain said the womans husband had been with the couples other children at Montego Bay Resort, where the family had been vacationing. He said the man arrived on the beach as his wife was pulled out of the water.

The children were all taken to the hospital, where they were evaluated and released, McClain said. The family is from Wernersville, Pennsylvania.

McClain said there were no lifeguards at the beach and that the day was overcast with cold, churning waters.

It was not at all a beach day. The water was very rough and the rip currents were very dangerous, he said, adding there was only one other visitor at the time.

North Wildwood officials on Wednesday said they were renewing a warning for people not to swim at beaches without lifeguards.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Mom drowns trying to rescue her 3 children from rip current at Jersey Shore beach - NJ.com