Coast Guard rescues 13-year-old boy who was swept ‘several hundred feet’ out to sea from Massachusetts’ coast

A 13-year-old boy was rescued by firefighters, police officers and the U.S. Coast Guard Saturday after he was swept out to sea in Gloucester.

Authorities said the boy, who is from Gloucester, fell off a rock at Rafe's Chasm and was swept away from land sometime around 5:20 p.m. Saturday.

13 year old boy saved by @USCGNortheast @USCG Station Gloucester after joint rescue operation with @GloucesterPD @gloucesterfire. Boy was swept off rocks at Rafes Chasm. He is in good condition being treated at local hospital. PR to follow. Video courtesy of GFD. @GuilfoilPR pic.twitter.com/ztJy3sTTJx

— Gloucester Fire Dept (@gloucesterfire) September 7, 2019

First responders learned the boy had been taking photos of the waves with his friends when he fell off of a rock and into the water.

“At the time police and firefighters arrived on the scene, he had been swept approximately 50 to 75 feet offshore,” authorities said. “The U.S. Coast Guard Gloucester Station was informed of the incident, and promptly launched a 47-foot motor lifeboat in search of the boy.”

@7News a boy at rafes chasm, Gloucester, ma, got swept out to sea by a wave when he was trying to take a video of the surf. The Gloucester coast guard station came and saved him, he was in the water for way too long. It was a miracle he made it pic.twitter.com/5jcI0y0omK

— 👾 player 1 👾 (they/them) (@epistemicarden) September 7, 2019

The boy was several hundred feet away from shore when he was rescued by the Coast Guard.

The boy was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He was in good condition last night.

“Fortunately, as a result of the swift, seamless teamwork between the Gloucester Fire and Police Departments and the Coast Guard, this boy was rescued very quickly,” Fire Chief Eric Smith said. “Time is critical in an incident like this, and I'd like to thank all those who took part in today's rescue.”