Rough Surf Sends Five People To Hospital From Beaches

A 15-year-old boy suffered a possible spinal injury Wednesday morning after getting caught in heavy shore break at Surfside Beach. He was one of at five people who had to be transported from island beaches to Nantucket Cottage Hospital over the past two days as heavy surf and strong rip currents have created hazardous conditions along the shore.

The boy's condition is currently unknown. In addition to the Surfside incident, two people were transported by ambulance from Cisco beach - one with a possible broken ankle and another for a dislocated shoulder - according to Harbormaster Sheila Lucey, who manages the town's lifeguard program. Another beachgoer was transported from Miacomet with an elbow injury.

"It was a really rough day," Lucey said.

The conditions prompted lifeguards to close Surfside beach to swimming on several occasions.

On Thursday, a fifth person was hospitalized after suffering an apparent dislocated shoulder at Nobadeer beach.

"There have been some of the strongest rip currents I've ever seen," Lucey said. "A lot of this stuff is shore break. It's been huge, and we're expecting it to be even bigger (on Friday). The concern is that it's supposed to be a nice beach day, but with big waves and strong rip currents again."

Stay tuned to the Nantucket Current Instagram page for the daily beach report from island lifeguards, which provides the conditions at every lifeguarded beach.