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Rip current rescues keeping lifeguards busy

HAMPTON, NH — Rip tides can turn a perfect beach day into a dangerous day victims will never forget. At Hampton Beach, dozens of rescues have taken place, just this week.

“We’ve always been aware there's rip currents but I had no clue they were this bad,” said Alicia Clendennin of Quaker Hill, Connecticut.

In two days’ time, dozens and dozens of swimmers were rescued from the waters of Hampton Beach after being pulled away from shore by rip currents.

Thursday, there were 18 rescues; Wednesday there were 48.

"I was completely surprised, but people think their kids are OK and they let them go down in the water and they get carried away,” said Betsy Dodd of Manchester.

“There are a lot of little kids out there and so it's not long before you could be swept away so it is pretty scary,” said Clendennin.

Even experienced swimmers say they’ve experienced the power of rip currents. Emma Hargraves told us she was learning to surf in Costa Rica when she ended up in a rip current.

“It was just so scary. I mean, I did the right thing instinctively like floating so I don't use all of my energy because water was getting in my mouth and I'm scared so I'm breathing heavy and stuff,” said Hargraves.

Rip currents make it feel like you’re floating out and can’t get back.

If you feel that, you can do what Emma did and float or tread water and try to call for help. Or lifeguards recommend trying to swim with the current, parallel to the beach until you’re out of the rip. But never try to swim against the current.

"It's very scary but it's Mother Nature at its best,” said Dodd.

A yellow flag indicates the danger of rip currents. Lifeguards can’t predict when they will happen or how long they will last, but when they’re detected, lifeguards will often restrict areas of swimming or only allow swimmers to go into the water up to ankle deep.