SACO, Maine — Eight people had to be rescued from rough water at Kinney Shores in Saco.
One man was taken by ambulance to the hospital and investigators say it could have been a lot worse if a group of bystanders hadn’t jumped in the water to help. Officials said it started when a young girl out over her head began screaming for help. Her father jumped into the water to get her – but he quickly became caught in the undertow.
At the same time, six other people nearby began yelling that they were also caught by the undertow. That’s when bystanders jumped in to the water and used boogie boards to get them to shore.
Beachgoer Gary Wilson, who was at the beach with his own daughter, swam out with a boogie board to rescue the struggling father.
The father of the little girl was taken to the hospital, but he was conscious and alert, according to Deputy Chief David Pendleton of the Saco Fire Department.
Lifeguards from nearby Old Orchard Beach arrived as everyone was getting to shore.
Wilson said he doesn’t consider himself a hero. “I think all of us just did what anyone would do, really.”