12-year-old rescued after floating out to sea
It’s good to take some time to relax at the beach – but don’t relax too much.
A 12-year-old boy floated approximately a quarter of a mile out to sea Monday when he fell asleep on his inner tube at Preston Beach in Marblehead, authorities said.
Danvers resident James Turner said that he was wearing earplugs and could not hear his family call for him. According to the Marblehead Fire Department, Turner traveled almost a quarter of a mile out to sea before help arrived. Monday's winds were stronger than usual and caused the current to carry Turner away faster and harder.
Turner's 16-year-old cousin, Abigail Turner, noticed him floating out too far and went to assist him on a boogie board, and an adult family member noticed both of them out too far and swam to help. Another adult family member on the beach then called 911, authorities said.
Joe Thibodeau and John Lequin of the Marblehead Fire Department responded to the call around 11:42 a.m. with an inflatable boat and helped the two teens to shore while the harbormaster assisted the female family member. No injuries were reported and both teens declined medical treatment.
“The hero here is the 16-year-old that noticed the boy floating away,” said Captain Mike Porter, a spokesman for the Marblehead Fire Department.
The Swampscott Fire Department and harbormaster also responded, but no further assistance was needed.
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