PROVINCETOWN, MA — Officials believe a rip current may have pulled three people into the water off Herring Cove Beach on Friday afternoon. First responders were called just before 3 p.m. after reports of three people in distress.
Emergency crews pulled all three from the water. Two were reported in stable condition, while a third was taken to Cape Cod Hospital in critical condition.
Town officials call the incident a reminder of how fast conditions can change
Provincetown Town Manager Alex Morse said the event was a painful reminder of how quickly water conditions can turn dangerous. He said the town offers support to those affected and thanked everyone involved in the rescue effort.
The response included Provincetown Fire, Police and Harbormaster crews, along with the National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Massachusetts State Police and other agencies.
State police and district attorney’s office are investigating the rescue
The incident remains under investigation by Massachusetts State Police and the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office. Officials have not said whether any additional circumstances contributed to the emergency.
The report comes as the risk for rip currents is rated moderate, with the danger expected to rise over the weekend.
Beachgoers warned as rip current risk rises
Rip currents can form quickly and create hazardous swimming conditions even when the water appears calm. Officials’ warning suggests anyone headed to the beach should pay close attention to posted alerts and changing surf conditions.
In this case, responders reached the swimmers in time to recover all three, but one remained in critical condition after being transported to the hospital.
From the Twin Cities to the border and back, Travel Your Way keeps Minnesota informed.