East Lyme — A woman in her 70s was rescued at McCook Beach in Niantic on Thursday afternoon after she was seen in distress in the surf while swimming, East Lyme Resident State Trooper Sgt. Wilfred Blanchette III said.

Blanchette said the unidentified woman had been swimming for a time when children at the beach saw that she seemed to be floundering in the surf around 4 p.m. They alerted Parks and Recreation Department lifeguards, who performed CPR and called an ambulance.

The woman was transported by East Lyme Ambulance to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London. Her condition early Thursday evening was unknown.

“The kids at the beach, and lifeguards at the beach did a stellar job,” Blanchette said.

Parks and Recreation Director Dave Putnam praised lifeguards Andrew Brown and Evan Opsahl for their quick action in responding to the emergency.

Putnam said Brown has been a lifeguard at the beach for three years, and Opsahl for two years.

“We’re very proud of them,” Putnam said. “They did a great job.”

Putnam said the beach was crowded with children and families at the time of the emergency.