RIPLEY – Three swimmers in destress were rescued Tuesday afternoon by first responders in northern Chautauqua County.
The Chautauqua County Water Emergency Team was called to Ripley Beach on Lake Erie to assist a local fire department with a water rescue.
Deputies say that three people were swimming near the beach, when one of them was pulled away from the shore due to strong currents.
That swimmer, deputies say, began to have difficulties staying afloat. The two other swimmers then came to their aid. They were able to help the swimmer reach a nearby cliff face, but then were unable to make it back to the beach.
Rescuers, with assistance from the Fuller Hose Water Rescue Team of Northeast Pennsylvania, was able to pull two of the swimmers from the rocks. The third swimmer, deputies say, was able to safely climb up the cliff to safety on his own.
All three were evaluated at the scene by EMS and released.
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