A total of eight swimmers have been rescued in the St. Pete Beach area on Wednesday.

A family of five was rescued from the water off St. Pete Beach and rushed to local hospitals around 2:30 p.m. after getting caught in a rip current.

In a day that looked like gorgeous enough to swim, the family was caught in a dangerous situation following an abnormally dangerous tropical storm.

Johnny Havel told Bay News 9 his employee is one of the victims rescued from the water.

“I went in to see [him]," Havel said. "He’s got water in his lungs and they’ve got him on oxygen, but he was able to speak to me and tell me what had happened.

According to Havel, the victim said the family was out playing in the water and didn’t realize the currents had taken them out to where they had no footing.

As the family began to struggle to swim, three Good Samaritans jumped on boogie boards and swam to the family.

One Good Samaritan told Bay News 9 that he and two others reached the family near a buoy. Keith Arbuckle said he rescued one man who was "barely conscious" when he got him back to shore.

Arbuckle said he went back and rescued a woman who appeared to be in her 40s. He said she was unresponsive from the time he got to her. He said it took roughly 15 minutes to get back to her and get back to shore.

"[He] said it was a miracle," Havel recounted from the victim. "He said people -- guys on boards -- came out and he spoke with one that just kept bringing him in and he told [him] to hold on. [He] was not doing well and he said just come on, we’re almost there. Just hang on.”

"By the time I got to him, he was vomiting," Arbuckle said. "He was in pretty rough shape and at the limit where he wasn’t going to make it. He was going," Arbuckle threw his hands in the air, "going under by the time I got out there to him. I put him on my boogie board. I swam him on in.”
 
According to Havel, two of the man's children are fighting for their lives tonight. "Two of his boys are in critical condition," Havel said.

None of the victims have been identified at this time.

The family rescues occurred at 20th Avenue and Gulf Way. The man said he overheard police at the scene state the family is from Alabama, but Bay News 9 has not independently confirmed the witness account.

In all, three victims were transported to Palms of Pasadena Hospital, one to All Children’s Hospital and one to Bayfront Medical Center.

2nd water rescue

St. Pete Beach officials said two men were caught in a rip current before the family was rescued Wednesday. Those men were treated and released at the scene.

3rd water rescue

On Sunday night, Pinellas County Fire Dept. officials confirmed another person was rescued around 8:30 p.m. near 8th Avenue, near Pass-a-Grille. The Coast Guard was called to assist after a swimmer went under and didn't come up, according to witnesses.

The swimmer was brought to shore before the Coast Guard arrived. The victim did not sustain life-threatening injuries, officials said. The swimmer was not identified.

Authorities continue to strongly discourage people from getting in the water at beaches. Strong rip currents continue following Tropical Storm Debby.