Crews Rescue Two Swimmers Pulled Out by Rip Tide

Two 28-year-old men were rescued by Hampton fire and police department personnel Thursday evening after they were "quickly swept out by a strong rip tide" while swimming off Hampton Beach across from Haverhill Avenue, according to Hampton Deputy Police Chief Rich Sawyer.

The men refused medical treatment after rescue swimmers from both departments pulled them from the water shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday, according to Sawyer. Sawyer said the rip tide had pulled the men roughly 75 yards from shore and that the men had been in the water for about 30 to 40 minutes before being rescued.

The call came in at 8:03 p.m. Thursday, and upon responding Firefighters Jed Carpentier and Kyle Jameson and Police Officer James Deluca entered the water from the shore to assist the men, according to Sawyer.

Sawyer said Carpentier and Jameson are trained rescue swimmers, while Deluca has over 30 years of experience as a life guard on Hampton Beach. 

The Hampton Marine 1 rescue boat was also dispatched to the distress call, and crews were able to bring the men aboard the boat before transporting them to the public safety dock in Hampton Harbor for medical evaluation, according to Sawyer.

Sawyer said Rescue Swimmer Nate Denio entered the water from Marine 1 and assisted the swimmers during the call, while off-duty lifeguards also responded to the beach. 

No life guards were on duty at the time of the call. Sawyer recommended swimmers use caution during periods that lifeguards aren't on duty, as he said rip tides "are common along Hampton Beach."

The Union Leader has reported a 9-year-old boy entered the water in an effort to save the men before emergency responders arrived on scene. The paper reported that the men almost drowned the boy as he attempted to rescue them, although the boy was reportedly fine and able to make it to shore on his own.

There have been several water rescues and reports of swimmers in distress off the beach jetty so far this year, although Thursday's incident didn't occur in that location. Officials say there will soon be increased signage at the jetty warning swimmers about the slippery and dangerous conditions.