OCEAN CITY, MD - Ocean City lifeguards made nearly 200 rescues over two days as heavy surf pounded the beach and caused dangerous rip currents.
The Baltimore Sun reports that dangerous conditions on Sunday and Monday produced the numerous rescues.
Ocean City Beach Patrol Captain Butch Arbin says that on Sunday several swimmers had to be hospitalized, and an ambulance was called for three people who were pushed against rocks. On Monday, rip currents continued to prompt lifeguards to intervene, though no major incidents were reported.
Arbin says that in most rescues swimmers were not in distress, but were at risk of being pulled away from shore by a rip current.
Through July 26, the beach patrol reported making nearly 1,500 rescues this summer, an average of 150 per week.