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Lifeguards and firefighters pulled five adults who got stuck in a dangerous rip current while they were trying to save a young girl over the weekend.
On Sunday afternoon, an 11-year-old girl was swimming near Hueneme Pier in Ventura County when she became caught in a strong rip current, reports the L.A. Times. Seeing his daughter in distress, the girl's father attempted to rescue her, but was overwhelmed by the current as well. Four people from the beach then tried to help the father and daughter, but they too were caught in the current, and all six had to be rescued from the water by lifeguards and firefighters.
The group of six were transported to the hospital, according to Capt. Mike Lindberry, a spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department. The girl is said to be in moderate condition.
Over the past few months, thousands of swimmers have been rescued from strong rip currents across L.A., Ventura and Orange County Beaches, including one woman who was found naked three miles off shore.
Rip currents typically form near piers, jetties and along breaks in sand bars, and can quickly catch even strong swimmers off guard. Currents can reach an average speed of 1- to 2- feet per second, and reach up to 8 feet per second, according to the National Weather Service.
If swimmers find themselves being pulled away from shore by a rip current, they are advised to not fight the current or swim directly to shore. Instead, swimmers should paddle parallel with the shoreline to break free from the current's pull and then swim at an angle away from the current and towards the shore.
