More than 8 people saved in less than 2 hours after Long Beach lifeguards went off duty
Long Beach lifeguards are on duty during the week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the city. Swimming is prohibited after that, according to signs posted around the beach.
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More than eight people were saved during five incidents in the water off Long Beach yesterday evening, according to the City of Long Beach Fire Department.
Each rescue happened in less than two hours, starting just minutes after lifeguards went off duty for the day.
The Long Beach Lifeguard Patrol rescued three victims from the water near Laurelton Boulevard at 6:14 p.m.
At 6:36 p.m., the Long Beach Fire Department Water Rescue Unit responded to a person who fell from a Jet Ski near Atlantic Boulevard.
One person was hospitalized and another was pulled from the ocean near Monroe Boulevard at 7 p.m.
Just over half an hour after that, a distressed kayaker was safely transported to a dock near Maryland Avenue but did not require any medical attention.
Multiple people who were close to drowning were brought to safety by first responders on Jet Skis and lifeguards near Monroe Boulevard just before 8 p.m. One person in that rescue was also taken to the hospital.
"They shouldn't be swimming, but you have to have police patrolling around there," Long Beach resident Tony Mooney said. "What else can you do? You can't stop a kid, you can't even stop an adult if they want to go swimming."
Video showed first responders wheeling at least one victim in a stretcher toward an ambulance and offering aid to others on the sand.
Long Beach lifeguards are on duty during the week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the city. Swimming is prohibited after that, according to signs posted around the beach.
"The kids need to obey rules and they don't do that these days," Long Beach resident Elizabeth Canale said.
Long Beach first responders said the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department, Inwood Fire Department, Woodmere Volunteer Fire Department and Atlantic Beach Rescue as well as the ambulance from Mount Sinai South Nassau all assisted at the beach.
The Atlantic Ocean was choppy yesterday with 3- to 4-foot waves and a moderate rip current risk, according to News 12 meteorologists.
There is another moderate rip current risk today, according to the National Weather Service.
