It’s been a dangerous Labor Day weekend at the beach as hoards of vacationers flood southern Delaware.
Captain Kent Buckson of the Rehoboth Beach Patrol says his lifeguards made more than 50 rescues Saturday amid strong rip currents and six to eight foot waves pounding the sand.
Buckson says two of his lifeguards were injured when they crashed into a jetty after rescuing three girls.
He says conditions will be better Sunday and Monday, but they still can present problems.
“We anticipate probably some more rescues. It’s not as big surf today, but there is still some rip current activity out there.”
The Labor Day holiday typically brings a surge of beach-goers to Sussex County looking for one last taste of salt air.
Buckson says the reprieve from heavy surf shouldn't make vacationers complacent.
“Check in with a lifeguard wherever you go, whichever beach you’re at. I do recommend that if there are no lifeguards on duty at that beach don’t swim there, especially today, just because of the rip current levels still being moderate to heavy.”
Buckson says as summer fades to fall, surf conditions will continue to be more hazardous than earlier in the year. Certain beaches throughout Delaware will have lifeguards on duty on a limited schedule through the end of the month.