TOWN OF EVANS, N.Y. -- An evening on the shores of Lake Erie quickly turned into tragedy Thursday, as a 51-year-old Buffalo woman died trying to rescue her 11-year-old daughter and another 10-year-old girl from the water at Wendt Beach Park.
"They were at the edge of the water ankle deep/waist deep water swimming, playing in the water. The waves came in and swept them out," said Town of Evans Police Chief Ernest Masullo.
Mary Creighton went after the girls, but became trapped in the lake as well. Masullo said the 10-year-old managed to make her way to the beach, but Creighton and her daughter were still missing. A lieutenant was able to swim out and brought the 11-year-old to safety. Creighton's body was later found by rescue workers on jet skis.
While the waters looked relatively calm Friday morning, conditions on Lake Erie and at Wendt Beach Park the night before proved dangerous for crews on the water.
"Extremely windy. The waves were six to seven feet," Masullo explained. "One of our rescue units, Lake Erie Beach Fire, their rescue boat capsized."
The incident at Wendt is the first drowning Masullo has seen at the parks in their jurisdiction within the last six or seven years. Wendt, a county owned park, doesn't allow swimming due to a rocky beach and no lifeguard on duty. An orange gate separates the park from beach access, acting almost as a deterrent to anyone looking to head down there.
"As tragic as it is - and we're devastated we lost a life - people have to follow the rules," Masullo remarked. "We know what we're talking about when we post signs that say 'No Swimming,' 'Dangerous, No Lifeguards.' It's very frustrating."
It's a plea Masullo hopes people take to heart as they continue to enjoy Lake Erie's beaches for the rest of the summer.
"You see that water like that when there are no boats out - and the wind is such where those waves are so hard... Don't go in the water, don't go in the water," Masullo said.