2 men rescued from frigid water off SF’s China Beach

The U.S. Coast Guard and the San Francisco Fire Department were summoned to the area after two men swimming in the water without wetsuits were unable to make their way back to shore because of the strong tides. The U.S. Coast Guard and the San Francisco Fire Department were summoned to the area after two men swimming in the water without wetsuits were unable to make their way back to shore because of the strong tides. Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close 2 men rescued from frigid water off SF’s China Beach 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Two men were rescued Saturday morning in the frigid water near San Francisco’s China Beach, officials said.

At around 8 a.m., the Coast Guard and the San Francisco Fire Department were summoned to the area after two men swimming in the water without wetsuits were unable to make their way back to the beach because of the strong tides, said Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a Fire Department spokesman.

The men, both in their 40s, were not seriously injured, he said.

Rescue workers spotted one of the swimmers at the top of rocks near the beach and deployed a personal watercraft to get him before taking the man on board a Coast Guard boat, officials said. The man had signs of hypothermia and was treated at the scene, Coast Guard officials added.

The second swimmer was rescued from the water near the shoreline, Baxter said.

“San Francisco beaches are amongst the most hazardous in the nation,” Baxter warned. “There are extremely strong rip currents, cold water and sneaker waves. Enjoy the beach from the sand.”

Hamed Aleaziz is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: haleaziz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @haleaziz