Good Samaritans pull 2 from Lake Mich.

SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) - YouTube video sent into ReportIt captures part of a dramatic water rescue Saturday that pulled two struggling swimmers from Lake Michigan.

First responders say residents can learn a lot from the situation and the people who took a chance by jumping in to help.

The YouTube video shows that the waters this weekend along the South Haven piers were treacherous.

Kay Murk lives just off shore and said white capped peaks reached 9 to 10 feet, so it was no surprise when a man and woman began struggling Saturday after being sucked in by the current.

Emergency response boats soon headed their way.

"They were speeding. They were going fast," said Murk. "And then I heard the sirens and fire department were down on North Beach."

Watch the video courtesy YouTube:

The video shows a man who swam from the south pier to the north pier to aid in the rescue. He climbed up the ladder on the north side to help others throw life rings to the victims.

The man told 24 Hour News 8 that he used to be a lifeguard, which was the only reason he considered swimming across the channel in the first place.

He said doesn't advise others without training to get in the water to help in a rescue, especially in dangerous conditions.

"And the rescue squad ran out on the pier here, and I know they revived one person," said Murk.

Both of the victims were already out of the water when personnel from South Haven Emergency Services arrived on scene.

They used four-wheel drive ATV's to transport them to shore and a waiting ambulance.

Both victims were checked out at the hospital. One treated for exhaustion. Both are expected to be fine.
    
"Rip currents can happen anywhere along the beach," said Capt. Owen Ridley of South Haven Emergency Services. "Definitely more prevalent around the piers themselves."

The experts say there are steps good Samaritans should take first before jumping in.
   
"Preferably, you reach, throw, go," explained Ridley. "You reach for them, and if you can't reach them you throw a life ring or some other floatable device to aid them back to the surface. Then, if all else fails and you have no other option, you go in after them."

While the piers are equipped with life rings, South Haven's beaches do not use a flag warning system, so it's up to beach-goers to judge dangerous conditions.

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