Wasn't there a riptide alert yesterday?

hope they dont need the Berkeley police to get there quickly......otherwise they are going to have to swim for along time

How about you update this story already, its only been 2 hours already. And by the way, the incident was in island beach, not SSP. And the State Rangers handled it with assistance from Berkeley PD and the FD.

I saw on the news this afternoon, that there was a rescue in Seaside Park. They were interviewing a lifeguard and you could see the Funtown sign in the background.

It's always those who don't follow the rules that get in trouble. If they're told not to swim, what makes them think the rule doesn't apply to them? Guess you can't fix stupid

That ocean is very rough this year! Sounds like rough storms may be coming.

Calm down- watch the storms. The sea is strong and we are just humans. This week has been raining and the storm is off the coast . It was the equivalent of a Noreaster.. It has been and will slam waves in fror a number of days. If you lived in new England wherfe I came from this is normal and has been off an on in cycles during my 64 year old life.

First of all to everyone else who wants to post a comment let it be known from the mother of one of the girls.... ME.. that NO official has contacted me about what happened!, my daughter called me after the fact and let me know she was ok... and there were NO signs posted NO SWIMMING when she arrived with her friends and her friend's mother.. Today this is just hear say I will find out more tomorrow and NO the police NEVER called me. We live about 2-3 hours away and it wasn't until I came home from the hospital with my daughter that I saw what was on the news and the internet how severe this was. Had I known there was no lifeguard or any red flags (Which there weren't any flags either)...and NO swimming signs I would NEVER EVER let my daughter go to the beach with her friends! And despite the article and picture of the no swimming at the entrance... that was Im sure pulled down after the fact! I hope to know more tomorrow..

By the way... My daughter would like to thank Anthony ( one of the life guards who saved her life... And my husband and i would also like to thank everyone involved for saving and rescue the othe 4 girls as well!

Deborah, anybody that reads a paper or watches the news knows there have been multiple drownings due to riptide already this year. And as far as arguing over who responded, so much for being the unsung hero. Idiots.

Those that ignore closed areas and get themselves into trouble should be charged for any efforts that are taken to keep them safe. Then again, we could let nature take its course in culling the stupid ones.

Nice comments, guys, to the Mom! What if it had been your child? Of course you are both so smart you would never do anything less than brilliant. Everyone makes mistakes...ESPECIALLY when you are young. Thank God it did not turn into a tragedy! Deborah I am glad your daughter is safe!

Deb I'm glad everything ended happily. She just seemed to make it sound like it was everybody else's fault. The later comment is to the earlier guy all worried about who responded. Does that really matter?

I was at Island Beach State Park all day yesterday and the Park rangers were up and down the beach all day and personally went to each group and told them to STAY OUT OF THE WATER, but we already knew not to let them in the water, the waves and surf were very strong, to strong for the unexperienced swimmers. I have been taken out to sea due to rip currents and it is very frightening and leaves you exhausted.

Thanks, Ed for the nice reply. I do agree that just looking at the water, and warnings from lifeguards, would have kept me out of it! I was rescued once as a teen in a rip current...admittedly not smart. But I'm 60 now, and a lot wiser about when & where I swim in the ocean; you feel invincible when you're young. There seems to be some discrepancies here about the warnings, but I would suspect the girls were just feeling their teenage oats either way! Not always a good thing as we know! Thank God for the eagle-eyed rescuers, whoever they were...which when it comes down to it... it is not important WHO they were, no. There's a lot of heroes out there fortunately!

There was no mention to me or my small children that there were strong rip currents and no swimming allowed. They did not mention it at the gate or in the office when I was purchasing my season pass or when the lifeguards told us no boogie boards. There was a sign saying no lifeguards on duty but no mention of rip currents on that sign or near that sign. Jack- there was no mention of the beach being closed so your comment is out of line! Glad to hear the ppl are safe and hopefully beach patrol does a better job informing the public in the future.

Id like to clarify a comment I made on Fri night/ early sat morning... First of all as a parent .. I should have done my homework in researching the currents, the beach, and call the Island State Park Office myself, ect.. my daughter was invited to go to the beach with a friend and 3 other girls and I was like well...School had just let out, and theywanted to start off the summer having a fun day... OK Have a good time and leave me cell phone numbers in case I need to call you, because I also had to go to work in the early afternoon... I felt ok with her going, She is a good swimmer...

However.. I will FOREVER be greatful to EVERYONE involved in saving my daughter's life. It doesn't matter who called 911 first or who pulled who out of the water it is about saving lives and I can't say or thank everyone enough!

A very big lesson learned... On my part I will make a point of being better informed and prepared to tell my 13 year old daughter NO your not going it's too rough...
My daughter has a new respect for Mother nature and eventhough she was in waist deep the rip still sucked her in soo fast... too fast for her to fully comprehend was or how serious this situation was and became

Stephanie said she was in the rip for what felt like 20 minutes she said she tried to swim even with the shore line but became confused she was trying her hardest not to give up and at one point she began saying her goodbuys to us in her head

At the point when she was saying her goodbuys her body became numb, she felt the presence of the Lord and he told her it wasn't her time yet and that's when the lifeguard was there

Admittedly, I did not read the 'no swimming' sign attached to the 'bathing beach 1' sign. I was watching oncoming cars and looking to make the left into the parking lot. I will be more aware of all signs going into the park, and I will ask at the gate if there's anything I should know about that day in particular.

You can't swim "even with the shoreline", when you're in the rip. I know it's scary, but let the current take you out to where it's deeper, THEN swim even to the shore line and let the waves carry you in. Been doing that for a long time, but don't think I'd try it anymore at 66.
It's the panic that overtakes everyone.

Deborah I am a single mom of three. There have been many days that I felt that I could have done better, but because of work and because of "please, please, mom PLEASE! I didn't. Don't kick yourself. It seems like there was Someone watching over your baby today. Give her an extra hug and kiss tonight and be thankful to those that care enough to be there to help.

OK folks you know how you solve this issue of bennies going in the water when theyre not supposedd too? Arrest them fine them & charge them for the rescue fees! Yes I know to alot of the bennies (like college students) its only money BUT if you do it to enough the message will get across

There's always one in the crowd...

Agreed Deb. lol

And people that use the bennies phrase all the time probably moved here in 81. lol

to mother of the victim: I'm so happy your daughter is safe. Accidents happen and riptides quickly appear. enough said. to the people who have nasty comments and "stupid" remarks - shame shame on you. I hope you are never in trouble, cause someone may throw an anchor your way. lots of light!!!

Was on IBSP yesterday. Saw three 12-13 yo boys in the water. Parents were on the beach...dad fishing, mother sunbathing. Lifeguard on a " morning run", ran right by them and never acknowledged them or ordered them out of the water. We called the gate and within 15 minutes, 2 lifeguards arrived on an ATV and spoke with the father. At that point, the boys were already out of the water. Tragedy averted. Oh... And this occurred on the Gillikins section of the island, which is a " fishing only" beach. No Swimming, picnicking, or sunbathing...Rules not being enforced is a widespread problem on th island. :(