Rescuers pulled five people to shore Sunday afternoon after they were caught in a riptide off a beach northeast of Charlottetown.

The drama that unfolded after four teenaged girls and a woman were swept away from shore at Blooming Point beach was captured on amateur video.

After the swimmers were pulled into deep water, another group of beachgoers managed to get a boogie board (a small plastic surfboard) out to them.

Clint Avery, who swam out to the girls and woman, said he stayed beside three of the swimmers for 40 minutes while others figured out a way to get the five back to shore.

Avery said they were close to drowning in the pounding surf before help reached them.

Emergency crews, aided by people on the beach, formed a 30-person human chain and carried a rope to the stranded swimmers. They were then pulled to shore.

The woman was taken to hospital, where she was treated for shock. The four teens were not injured.