Surf, rip currents from Gert lead to one fatality, beach rescues in R.I., Mass.

August 16, 2017 6:08 pm

By: John Krinjak

Email: jkrinjak@abc6.com

Twitter: @johnkrinjakABC6

WESTERLY, R.I. (WLNE) — Hurricane Gert may be hundreds of miles away. But it still made for a treacherous day on the water.

High surf and dangerous rip currents led to a drowning in Nantucket. The victim was a man in his 40s, found unresponsive in the water.

And the Coast Guard reported at least 27 rescues off the coast of Nantucket Wednesday.

Meantime in Rhode Island lifeguards had their hands full.

Three people were rescued Wednesday evening after they were reported missing near the Westerly Town Beach.

They were pulled out to sea by rip tides from Hurricane Gert.

Lifeguards say it was one of many rescues along this stretch of beach.

"I had to grab the torp and run down there, and by the time I got down there the jetski was in the water, but I still had to get out there and get two more people, their wives had gotten stuck," said lifeguard Gabriella Celico.

"People were scrambling to get there really quick. So it seemed like it was a busy day. The guards were running up and down the beach to get people to stay close to shore," said Robert Warner, a martial arts instructor who holds classes on the beach.

Signs warned folks to stay out of water above their waist, and many of these beaches shut down for at least part of the day.

"We’ve had extreme big waves, really big rip currents," said lifeguard supervisor Amanda Labriola.

"There’s people we had to take out of the water today that thought they knew what they were doing on boogie boards or surfboards," said Celico.

"Definitely a huge undertow. a lot of stuff going on as far as the current," said Warner.

We’re told waves on nearby East Beach in Watch hill were even higher.

"I’d say at least between 10 and 15 feet. they were very very high," said Ann Marie Thatcher of East Greenwich, who spent the afternoon at East Beach.

Officials caution swimmers to stay in designated areas, so that a lifeguard is nearby, just in case.

And on this busy beach day, thankfully most people played it safe.

"All the beaches were crowded today. People really enjoyed being out there to see those waves and be on the sand and enjoy the fun. This is Rhode Island. We love it," said Thatcher.

The surf is not expected to be quite as high Thursday, but here is still a risk of rip currents.