Siblings, 5 and 10, rescued at North Salmon Creek Beach

Two young siblings playing in the creek at North Salmon Creek Beach nearly drowned Monday afternoon, though a parent managed to pulled them from the water in time to save their lives, emergency personnel said.

The children, a 5-year-old boy and his 10-year-old sister, had taken in water and had difficulty breathing afterward, and were flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for evaluation and possible treatment as a precaution, rescue personnel said.

The kids and their parents were among throngs of families who headed to the coast in celebration of the Memorial Day holiday.

The creek, whose outlet into the ocean sometimes closes over with sand, may have been deeper than they anticipated when they went into the water. It’s also possible they stepped into a hole and water over their heads, state park Lifeguard/Peace Officer Tim Murphy said.

They were weak swimmers and foundered for a time before they were rescued, he said.

A state park maintenance worker in the nearby parking lot called for help. Bodega Bay fire personnel responded, as well as the Sonoma County sheriff’s helicopter.

Given the childrens’ ages and the amount of water theyingested, the helicopter put down on the beach and flew the children with a paramedic onboard to Memorial Hospital, Murphy said.

No update on their condition was available late Monday.

Mary Callahan