Salisbury Good Samaritans rescue father and son from rip current
SALISBURY – A man was hospitalized Wednesday after he and his son were caught in a dangerous rip current and needed to be rescued by Good Samaritans.
It happened around 12:30 p.m. in the area of North End Blvd.
A child started yelling for help, a witness said, and his father ran into the water.
Two beachgoers rushed in and pulled a total of four children back to shore before bringing their father out of the water.
"I hear 'Help! Help!'" said Robin DiNatale, who called 911. "It's devastating and the kids were on the deck saying 'Is my daddy OK?'"
Police said the children's father was taken to the hospital. His condition is not known, but police said he appears to be fighting for his life.
Kenny Crosby helped pull the man and his son out of the water.
"The kid was going further, and then the dad was running out. Then the dad was also yelling 'Help.' I had no choice I had to run out there," Crosby said. "Small, teenage kid. His dad looked like he was struggling. The kid grabbed my hand. We started swimming, and I don't know. It was just like survival mode."
Police said the surf has been rough in recent weeks. Earlier this month, dozens of swimmers were rescued over Labor Day weekend at nearby Hampton Beach.
"I would just say don't go over your waist. Just stay where you can keep your feet on the ground," Salisbury Police Sgt. James Leavitt said.