MILFORD — When four swimmers got into trouble in a rip current at Hampton Beach, three Milford High School students didn't think twice about running to their rescue.

Two weeks ago, Tyler Keating, Andrew Myers and Molly Mendola took a day off from school and headed to the beach with a group of friends. But “senior skip day,” a tradition for many high school seniors just before graduation, took a dramatic twist when they reached Hampton.

“We were all sitting on the beach together when we heard a girl yelling,” said Keating. “Then we heard 'someone's drowning' and we jumped up and ran into the water.”

Four people had been drawn into a rip current and no lifeguards were on duty.

Myers and Mendola, who both trained as lifeguards at Hampshire Hills in Milford with the American Red Cross, rushed to the aid of a man and woman who were being pulled out to sea by the strong undertow. In the meantime, Keating, who grew up on the water, went to help another man.

Using their understanding of water safety, they made their way back to the shore in a diagonal line instead of heading straight in against the current.

A fourth man was able to make his way back to shore without the teens' help.

“They were panicked, exhausted, tired and cold,” said Myers, who also trained as a lifeguard at Keyes Pool in Milford. “And they had swallowed a lot of water. But they were OK.”

The seniors, who will graduate today, said they didn't know the people they saved but said they would be willing to do the same thing again if the need arose.

Myers and Mendola were cited for bravery by the high school on Monday, but Keating was not at the ceremony and received a certificate from Principal Brad Craven on Friday.

In the fall, Keating will head to Nashua Community College to study business, Myers will study law enforcement at New Hampshire Technical Institute, and Mendola will attend the University of Maine at Orono. She's thinking about a career in nursing.

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Nancy Bean Foster may be reached at nfoster@newstote.com.nfoster@newstote.com