HAMPTON, N.H. (CBS) – Experts are warning beach swimmers: beware of treacherous rip tides. The warning comes after off-duty lifeguards rescued 10 people from rip currents at a popular New Hampshire beach Friday night. Hampton Beach lifeguards had just completed their shifts but were still in the area when they saw that multiple swimmers were in trouble. “We were upstairs closing up for the night (when) we noticed three victims out in the water. We sent lifeguards out to make the first rescue of three females,” said Patrick Murphy of New Hampshire State Beach Patrol. “We saw two more people stuck in the rip current (and) went out, rescued them,” Murphy said. “And at this point, there was another group of about five people that were in a different rip current a little bit South of our location so we went in and had to rescue them as well.” Swimmers described a harrowing experience. “It was like a washing machine. It would bounce you around and pull you back out,” said Rod Smeltzer. “A wave came, and I went under and got tumbled around,” said Margaret Smeltzer. “But then it pulled me back up on the shore, but in order to get up, it was tough, because the waves kept coming one right after the other.” The swimmers were rescued and luckily, none required medical attention. Some people said swimmers need to take some responsibility. “They have to understand you can’t go out too far, you’ve got to be real careful, and then they panic and that’s the problem,” said swimmer Rocky Conrado. “They feel invincible and they don’t see the danger but the poor lifeguards, they’re putting their lives on the line,” said Pam Conrado. Lifeguards said ocean conditions similar to Friday night are likely to arise again when low tide arrives.<doc-sep>Officials are warning about strong rip currents off the New Hampshire coastline after nine swimmers were rescued off Hampton Beach on Friday.Fire crews initially got a call about 6:30 p.m. for two teenagers in the water, and by the time they responded, three more people from a separate group were also struggling.>> Download the FREE WMUR appBefore that call, four others had already been rescued Friday. Lifeguards were able to pull everyone to safety. No one was hurt.State Park officials said rip currents are at their worst two to three hours before and after low tide.The next low tides are on Saturday at about 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.Authorities are urging people to pay attention to lifeguards' warnings. Officials are warning about strong rip currents off the New Hampshire coastline after nine swimmers were rescued off Hampton Beach on Friday. Fire crews initially got a call about 6:30 p.m. for two teenagers in the water, and by the time they responded, three more people from a separate group were also struggling. Advertisement >> Download the FREE WMUR app Before that call, four others had already been rescued Friday. Lifeguards were able to pull everyone to safety. No one was hurt. State Park officials said rip currents are at their worst two to three hours before and after low tide. The next low tides are on Saturday at about 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Authorities are urging people to pay attention to lifeguards' warnings.<doc-sep>Five swimmers rescued from ocean at Hampton Beach Five swimmers were rescued by off-duty lifeguards off the coast of Hampton Beach in New Hampshire Friday evening, authorities said. The Hampton Fire Department received two 911 calls about the struggling swimmers just after 6:30 p.m.By the time firefighters responded to the area, the off-duty lifeguards had already helped bring the teenage swimmers to shore. The swimmers were reportedly caught in a rip current. No additional medical treatment was needed. Officials are warning swimmers about the danger of the strong, potentially deadly currents across area beaches. Swimmers are advised to swim near a lifeguard, and to stay out of the water when a lifeguard is not on duty. Five swimmers were rescued by off-duty lifeguards off the coast of Hampton Beach in New Hampshire Friday evening, authorities said. The Hampton Fire Department received two 911 calls about the struggling swimmers just after 6:30 p.m. Advertisement By the time firefighters responded to the area, the off-duty lifeguards had already helped bring the teenage swimmers to shore. The swimmers were reportedly caught in a rip current. No additional medical treatment was needed. Officials are warning swimmers about the danger of the strong, potentially deadly currents across area beaches. Swimmers are advised to swim near a lifeguard, and to stay out of the water when a lifeguard is not on duty.<doc-sep>
Multiple people rescued at Hampton Beach Share Shares Copy Link Copy Hide Transcript Show Transcript WEBVTT IN HAMPTON BEACH WITH MORE ON THAT WARNING ISSUED. CHERISE: TONIGHT, FIRE OFFICIALS TELL US THAT BESIDES BEING TIRED AND SHAKEN UP, EVERYONE WHO WAS PULLED FROM THE WATERS EARLIER THIS EVENING WERE ON INJURED. POWERFUL RECURRENCE PROVED TO BE TOO MUCH FOR WATER -- FOR SWIMMERS -- POWERFUL RIP CURRENTS PROVED TO BE TOO MUCH FOR SWIMMERS. AUTHORITIES WERE ORIGINALLY CALLED FOR SWIMMERS STRUGGLING IN THE WATER. >> WE ARRIVED ON SCENE. THE LIFEGUARDS HAD GOTTEN THEM OUT OF THE WATER. THE TEENAGERS WERE SAFE BUT THREE OTHER PEOPLE WERE CAUGHT IN THE RIP CURRENTS AND THE LIFEGUARDS ALSO ASSISTED THEM OUT OF THE WATER. CHERISE: AN FOUR OTHER PEOPLE HAD ALREADY BEEN RESCUED. THE LIEUTENANT SAYING IT IS FORTUNATE FOR THE SWIMMERS THAT LIFEGUARDS WERE EVEN STILL ON DUTY. >> WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE CALL CAME IN AT 6:30 P.M. LIFEGUARDS WERE STILL ON DUTY. THEY NOTICED THE PEOPLE STRUGGLING IN THE WATER. CHERISE: STATE PARK OFFICIALS ARE URGING SWIMMERS TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF LIFEGUARDS. THEY SAY RIP CURRENTS ARE STRONGEST 2 HOURS BEFORE AND AFTER LOW TIDE. LIFEGUARDS MONITOR THIS CONSTANTLY ALONG WITH FIRE OFFICIALS. IT CHANGES FROM DAY TO DAY WHERE THEY ARE. THE LIFEGUARDS ARE FANTASTIC. THEY DO THIS EVERY DAY. CHERISE: THE LIFEGUARDS ARE BEING COMMENDED FOR HELPING ALL NINE PEOPLE OUT OF THE WATER SAFELY. TOMORROW, LOW TIDE IS AROUND 7:00 A.M. AND 7:00 P.M. ANYONE HEADING TO THE BEACH WILL WANT TO USE EXTREME CAUTION AROUND THOSE HOURS. STATE PARK OFFICIALS REMINDING EVERYONE TO LISTEN TO LIFEGUARD INSTRUCTIONS GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Submit Privacy Notice