WESTPORT — A Horseneck Beach visitor from Canada saved an 8-year-old boy who was pulled underwater Thursday night by the strong undertow, police said.

Gabriel Roy entered the surf at Horseneck and rescued the boy, who is not identified by Westport police in a news release. Roy was vacationing from Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, with his girlfriend.

The 8-year-old did not lose consciousness and was alert, police said. He was transported by the Westport Fire Department to Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

About 7:45 p.m. Thursday, Westport police received multiple calls from witnesses at Horseneck Beach about the incident, the news release said. Witnesses said the boy was pulled underwater several times by a strong undertow.

Westport police and firefighters responded and learned the boy was rescued and was brought to shore by Roy, police said.

Westport police remind beachgoers that if caught in an undertow to remain calm, try to control your breathing, float or tread water until you can swim out of the current or swim parallel to the shore to escape the current.