An Ogunquit firefighter rescued two swimmers who were struggling in heavy surf off Ogunquit Beach on Saturday afternoon.

The swimmers were spotted just after 2:30 p.m. about 150 yards from the beach in front of the Norseman Hotel. The first fire officer on the scene sent a police officer and a firefighter to Perkins Cove to get a boat and requested that the York Fire rescue boat also respond, said fire Chief Russell Osgood.

Local fisherman Steve Weiner assisted with his boat and got the rescue team moving from Perkins Cove. As the boats were underway, firefighter Nathanael Pierce entered the water alone to get the swimmers and bring them back to shore through the heavy surf, Osgood said.

The swimmers, whose names and hometowns were not released, were taken to York Hospital for evaluation.

The fire department issued a warning that the ocean is still very cold and hypothermia can set in within minutes, even in a wetsuit.


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