SWAMPSCOTT, MASS. (WHDH) - A young girl on float had to be rescued after she was swept out into the water off Swampscott on Tuesday, officials said.
The child was floating in the water on an inflatable orange raft when winds blew her out of the reach of her parents and about 500 yards out to sea off Preston Beach, according to the Swampscott Fire Department.
The harbormaster quickly responded, retrieved the child without incident, and brought her back to shore, the department said.
“When we came upon it, there was no one inside the raft itself,” Lieutenant Bill Waters said. “Until we got really close and we saw this little head, this brown haired little girl. She immediately told us her name and that she was 5-years-old and that she knew to stay in the boat so credit to her because she was really brave and kept her composure and didn’t try to risk anything and get in the water by herself.”
An EMS crew examined the girl at the scene and found no injuries. She has since been reunited with her mother.
“She’s fine and she is safe and we are so happy,” the girl’s mother said.
The girl could be seen giving police a high five as paramedics tended to her.
Police are warning parents about the use of those inflatable rafts and urging everyone to wear a life jacket.
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