Boy saves brother swept away by current at California beach, rescuers say
A teenage boy saved his brother from a rip current off Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California news outlets reported.
Firefighters carried the two youths 300 feet to two waiting ambulances Saturday, May 10, the San Francisco Fire Department said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The brothers were visiting the beach with their family from out of town, KTVU reported.
One brother was swept away by the current and the second swam after him at about 4 p.m., KRON reported. The brothers made it to shore but required medical care.
One is listed in critical condition and the second in stable condition, the station said.
What is a rip current?
Rip currents are “powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water” that happen on the coasts of the U.S. and in the Great Lakes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
About 100 people are killed by rip currents each year in the U.S., NOAA reported. Lifeguards rescue thousands of people from rip currents annually.
Experts say people can take steps to stay safe from rip currents, including:
Check the local water conditions before getting in.
Talk to a lifeguard at the beach about the conditions.
Only swim at beaches where lifeguards are present.
Don’t assume great weather means good swimming conditions.