Ogunquit Beach lifeguards save six from rip currents: What swimmers should know

OGUNQUIT, Maine — In two separate incidents this week, lifeguards saved six people from the dangerous pull of rip currents at Ogunquit Beach.

Both rescues happened on the same day lifeguards themselves encountered a 100-yard rip current during one of their intense morning water workouts.

Rip currents are channels of water between sandbars, piers and jetties that flow out to sea. They can be tricky, as they are not always visible — some form in seemingly calm waters, yet they remain a risk to swimmers, no matter what one’s skill level.

In a press release, Lt. Luca Miranda, of the Ogunquit Ocean Rescue, urged people to always swim near a lifeguard.

“Feel free to consult with the guards prior to entering the water for any rip current safety information,” Miranda said. “Always keep a close eye out for changes in the surf that could indicate a rip current is forming.”

How the rescues happened at Ogunquit Beach

On the morning of July 24, three juveniles from a nearby summer camp were pulled into a rip current off the main beach, according to Ogunquit Fire Chief Russell Osgood.

Miranda and fellow lifeguards Will Thompson, Isabella Ferraro, Colby Lapointe, and Connor Smart all grabbed rescue boards and tubes, went into the water, and assisted the swimmers to safety, Osgood said. Once on the shore, Beach EMT Heather Tardif evaluated each of the juveniles.

Given the strong rip current, the area was closed to swimmers for about three hours, according to Lifeguard Captain Adam Legg. The lifeguards posted safety information on the beach and patrolled the shore on jet skis to ensure the quick removal of anyone caught in the rip.

Even more heroics were needed that evening.

As lifeguards were just about to go off duty, two of them, Alna Hallowell and Nathaniel Gomes, rescued three teenagers at the point of the beach’s river mouth. The teens had stepped off the edge of the drop-off there and were pulled right into the fast-moving rip current, according to Osgood.

Once returned safely to shore, one of the teenagers needed to be brought to York Hospital for evaluation, Osgood said.

Osgood added that lifeguards are emphasizing to swimmers that rip currents are “dangerous and abundant across the beach.” The guards are now holding safety programs for the public on Thursdays.

Ogunquit lifeguards were not the only ones rescuing swimmers from rip currents in recent days. Across the border in Hampton, New Hampshire, firefighters and off-duty lifeguards and others rushed into the ocean on July 22 to save three individuals caught in a rip current at the beach. A “human chain” of bystanders also were a part of the effort, according to Hampton Fire Chief Michael McMahon.

Hampton Beach rescue: 'Human chain' formed to save swimmers caught in rip current

What to do if you are caught in a rip current

The United States Lifeguard Association (USLA) recommends that swimmers remember to relax and avoid swimming against the current if caught in a rip current.

You may be able to escape by swimming out of the current in a direction following the shoreline, or toward breaking waves, and then at an angle toward the beach, according to the USLA. As well, you may be able to escape by floating or treading water if the current circulates back toward shore.

If you feel you are unable to reach the shore, draw attention to yourself. If you need help, yell and wave for assistance.

If you see someone snagged in a rip current, the USLA urges you not to become a victim yourself, as many people have died trying to save others. Seek help from a lifeguard instead.

“That’s what we train for,” Legg said during an interview. “We’re all very confident in each other and our team.”

If a lifeguard is not around, call 9-1-1, and then do your best to direct the victim to swim parallel to the shoreline to try to escape from the rip current.

If possible, the USLA adds, throw the victim something that floats. Do not enter the water without a floatation device.

Osgood said Ogunquit’s lifeguards follow the best practices outlined by the USLA. He said the guards watch the ocean closely and have increased preventative measures to help people avoid rip currents.

“I am proud of the staff and their commitment to their profession and the patrons at our beautiful beaches,” Osgood said.

Helping someone feels good, Miranda said, during an interview on the beach on July 27. When a rescue is successful and complete, there is a feeling of relief, as well, he added.

“Once the dust settles, you’re like, ‘Phew, everyone’s good.’ Overall, you can’t help but smile at the end of it all,” Miranda said.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Ogunquit Beach ME lifeguards save six from rip currents