I will relate a personal experience from 15-20 years ago at Rockaway. I was out for an early session on a crappy day, but at least it wasn't crowded yet with all the Williamsburgers still on the bus making their way down. Well before LG's hours. Pretty much by myself with 3-4 other people out. At the time the "Death Spikes" were still in place (which is another story in itself). the lines of wooden spikes created channels that sometimes funneled the water out like a man made rip current.
A group of about 6 kids aged, I guess, between 7 and 11 or so came over the boardwalk and made their way into the shallows. The usual laughing and screaming and horseplay. A set of about 3-4 waves came through and created a bit more current on the inside. Then that "happy screaming" kind of changed. I heard it almost instantly- this was different. One of the girls in the group got separated and was caught in the current moving out along the spikes. Now- it wasn't DEEP, deep, and most of them could still touch bottom, but she was a bit further out and was a bit panicky as she tried to fight against it until she was far enough out not to be able to touch bottom. I watched this as I powered my way towards her- 1 or 2 other guys heard it and where heading there as well, I just happened to be a lot closer.
A couple of the other kids started to react like you aren't supposed to- they began to go after her to try and help. As I got closer, I was screaming at them to stop and go back in and get help. It took a few tries but they did eventually stop as I got to the kid. Maybe 8 years old, she was definitely in panic mode when I grabbed her from behind and tried to calm her down. She at least stopped screaming, but was sobbing pretty hard. I got her onto the board while talking quietly to her as I made my way in. At least 2 or 3 of the other kids ran back over the boardwalk to the picnic area while the others watched and waited. Got her to the beach and it took her a minute or two to calm down a bit and answer "Where's your Mom or Dad?". She pointed toward the boardwalk and the picnic area. We walked up and over and I could hear music playing really loud. NO CHANCE the mother heard any kind of screaming. I brought her over and let the Mom know what happened in pretty severe terms. It turned out the other kids never said a word about what was happening, and she was mad at ME for touching her daughter. Then went back to tending her barbeque.