By Paul Kurtz

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – With Hurricane Leslie churning up the Atlantic Ocean, swimmers at the shore are being warned to be careful.

It’s already been a rough week at the water’s edge.

“We’ve had rough water, a very high surf and very strong rip currents — actually life-threatening rip currents,” said Atlantic City Beach Patrol Chief Rod Aluise. And, he said on Tuesday several people were dragged out by the current and had to be rescued.

“They were in the surf knee-deep and they were in over their head and they were moving out. I had four lifeguards on duty who grabbed torpedoes and ran to their rescue, swam out, they grabbed them. They would have been lost for sure if the lifeguards were not there.”

It’s a cautionary tale for those heading down the shore this weekend. With Labor Day behind us now there are fewer lifeguards on duty. Aluise has issued ankle-deep restrictions in the surf until conditions improve.