FAIRFIELD, Conn. Three teenage boys were rescued from Penfield Reef off Fairfields shores Tuesday afternoon. Fairfield fire and police crews worked to bring the boys to shore after they were stranded on the reef by the incoming tide.
A witness at the beach called 911 to report a group of boys was spotted in the area. The three 18-year-olds, two from Bethany and one from Orange, had walked out to the reef at low tide to swim near the lighthouse on top of Penfield.
When they decided the swim was not right for them, they turned to head back, but the tide had washed over the land bridge, officials said. Penfield Reef sits about 1 mile off Fairfields coastline.
The water was too shallow for the Fairfield Polices Marine Unit to bring in the three. The Fairfield Fire Department used its small water craft to bring the boys to shore. The three were evaluated at the scene and did not report any injuries, officials said.
Fairfield Fire Assistant Chief Scott Bisson, the commander at the scene, warned Fairfield residents not to swim in unfamiliar waters.
Tides, storms and weather constantly change the height of the sand bars and reefs around Long Island Sound, and may make an area that was previously safe different than expected, Bisson said.
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