Two brothers are missing after being swept away in treacherous conditions on Lake Erie, where another man also fell into the water later that same evening.
Tanya Labbe said her sons, Trent Sanchez, 19, and Austin Labbe, 22, were visiting Huntington Beach in Bay Village, Ohio, on Sunday, Aug. 17, when a rip tide carried them away, according to CBS affiliate WOIO.
Their sister, Angel Labbe, told FOX affiliate WJW that the brothers were near a break wall when the incident occurred.
“They were waist-deep, not too far out, and they got drifted far, quick,” Angel said.
Another swimmer tried to rescue the brothers but was nearly swept away by the strong currents, WJW reported.
Cleveland Metroparks Police Chief Kelly Stillman said the U.S. Coast Guard and Bay Village police arrived at the scene shortly after 5:30 p.m. local time, NBC affiliate WKYC reported.
The police chief noted that “it’s very easy to lose your footing and get pulled away” in that area. “You know, it’s a combination of both the waves pushing you, as well as the undercurrents pulling you,” Stillman said. “As the wave action happens, you just can’t regain your footing.”
No lifeguards were on duty at the time, according to WOIO and WJW. Tanya Labbe expressed frustration that there were insufficient warnings about the lake’s hazardous conditions.
“They did not do anything to warn us, didn’t even put the weather conditions flags up. There are so many signs in this park where it says if there’s a red flag, do not go in the water,” Tanya said, per WJW.
Stillman, however, stated that “a beach hazard warning was sent out” prior to the incident, adding that conditions on the lake were “horrible,” according to WOIO.
“The lake was not favorable for swimming,” the chief said. “Anybody that goes in those conditions is obviously putting themselves at risk.”
About two hours later, a 60-year-old man went missing near Edgewater Park in Cleveland, according to WKYC and WOIO. Stillman said the man “somehow” left the pier and entered the water.
“The Cleveland Fire Boat arrived shortly after, and they could see the male both beneath the water and at the surface, but the lake conditions prevented them from getting close enough to effect a rescue.”
As of Tuesday morning, Aug. 19, the 60-year-old man’s body had not yet been recovered, according to the reports.
