Four swimmers missing after rescue

HURON, Ohio -- Four men are believed to have drowned Wednesday after they waded into 5-foot waves crashing on a Lake Erie beach to help a swimmer struggling to stay afloat, a fire official said.

Firefighters rescued the woman.

The Coast Guard and dive teams searched for the men, believed to be between 18 and 30 years old, for several hours after they were reported missing off Nickel Plate beach.

"We hope there's some miracle that they swam ashore someplace, but we doubt it," Huron Fire Chief John Zimmerman said.

Officials said the search, which was complicated Wednesday by the waves, was to resume Thursday morning.

The half-mile long public beach had no lifeguards and had been closed for swimming Wednesday because of rough waters, but people were allowed to sunbathe and picnic, said City Manager Mike Tann.

The rescued swimmer was hospitalized in good condition. Two firefighters who helped with the rescue were treated for exhaustion.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Gregory Goetz said the waves were probably about 5-feet high around the time the swimmers went missing and "there would have been a strong undertow."

Huron is about 50 miles west of Cleveland.