A strong Seabrook Beach rip current drowned one man while threatening the lives of six others who were rescued after they were dragged out to sea Sunday afternoon in New Hampshire, The Eagle-Tribune noted.
There were no lifeguards at the beach at the time of the incident and it was up to Seabrook Officers John Giarrusso and Zach Bunszell, who were the first people on scene, to attempt to rescue the group of swimmers who had gotten into difficulty in the choppy ocean waters, CBS News noted.
Giarrusso helped bring the six people to shore before grabbing a surfboard to look for a seventh missing swimmer as lifeguards from a nearby beach rushed to assist in boats and jet skis.
Thirty minutes after police arrived at the scene, they hauled an unnamed 49-year-old Methuen man from the water, who was later pronounced dead after he was rushed to Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport, CBS Boston reported.
Meanwhile, Giarrusso and lifeguards were able to rescue a 47-year-old Methuen woman, who was taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, along with five other unidentified swimmers.
The woman remains in critical condition but the rest are expected to survive, the Hampton Patch said.
Acting Seabrook Chief of Police Brett Walker praised officials on scene who assisted.
"The quick and selfless actions of the police officers, firefighters, and lifeguards was essential in removing all parties from the rough waters today," said Walker, according to CBS Boston. "The inter-agency teamwork was exemplary given the circumstances. Our officers on scene, along with the Seabrook and Hampton Fire Departments and lifeguards, quickly and efficiently coordinated both a targeted search and rescue area for those in the water as well as land-based evacuation for those requiring transport."
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