Rangers said three people were taken to the hospital – including a lifeguard — after two people in a school group had to be rescued at Huntington Beach in Bay Village Monday morning.
According to the Cleveland Metroparks, a group from PEP Hopewell Day Treatment Center was on the Lake Erie beach for a school trip before it officially opened. A 9-year-old girl, Diamond Harris, and 46-year-old Laura Recco, were in the water and needed assistance at about 10:44 a.m.
“The beach opens at 11 o’clock, so this was prior to lifeguards being on duty. But they were here and able to help out prior to their shift,” said Jane Christyson with Cleveland Metroparks.
Rangers said seven lifeguards ran to help, as well as a bystander, Clint Kranes, of Elyria, who was at the beach with his daughters and their friend when he heard a woman screaming that a child had disappeared.
“I honestly hope everybody comes out of it OK,” Kranes said. “That’s all that matters. I’m exhausted but it was worth it.”
They were able to pull the two to shore, but one of the lifeguards, 19-year-old Christian Pesarchick, also suffered injuries during the rescue attempt.
Bob Gregory is the father of one of the seven lifeguards who jumped into the lake to help.
“I’m proud of him,” said Gregory. “He was called to action, have to go and that lake is choppy.”
Harris, Recco and Pesarchick were taken to St. John Westshore Hospital for treatment, and Harris was then transferred to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. Kranes did not require any medical treatment.
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article courtesy of Newsnet5.com
