OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) — Strong rip currents have killed two men in Ocean City, Maryland.

The first man to die was a 52-year-old from Huntington, Pennsylvania. He was among five people rescuers pulled from the water over a 15- minute period around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. The man was pronounced dead an hour later after extensive efforts to revive him.

The second man who drowned was a 49-year-old Baltimore County man. He was pulled from Ocean City waters just before 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Ocean City Beach Patrol says both men drowned because of strong rip currents.

Swimming restrictions in Ocean City are now in place.

Joe Theobald, director of the town’s Emergency Services Department tells WBOC-TV that if it weren’t for the fast response by emergency personnel, the death toll “could have been much worse.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.