New London — Lifeguards saved two men from drowning at Ocean Beach Sunday afternoon, according to fire department Battalion Chief Keith Nichols .

Both men were conscious following their near-drowning experience, although they were experiencing abdominal pain and vomiting following the incident, something that is not unusual in cases of near drowning, Nichols said.

Early Sunday afternoon New London Fire Department personnel responded to a report of four people in the water in distress. When they arrived on the scene though, they learned that just two people had nearly drowned, Nichols said.

Ocean Beach Park lifeguards had already rescued the two individuals, ages 30 and 60, from the water by the time the fire department arrived on the scene.

After the fire department's arrival, the men were transported by ambulance to L + M Hospital, Nichols said.