Swimmer arrested after refusing to leave ocean, trying to punch SC rescuers

A swimmer refusing to return to shore and swinging punches at a firefighter attempting to rescue him was arrested Friday in Surfside Beach.

On Friday afternoon, lifeguards near Surfside Pier were attempting to get 34-year-old Francisco John Carlo Aiello to return to shore, but Aiello continued swimming further out into the ocean, an incident report said. The lifeguards eventually flagged down a patrolling Surfside Beach Police officer.

A Surfside Beach Police Department report stated that an officer observed Aiello appeared to have possibly been in distress as he was swimming further into the ocean.

Two lifeguards were sent into the water with floatation devices to attempt to speak to Aiello and bring him back to shore, but Aiello continued swimming away from the lifeguards when they tried to reach him, the report said.

Firefighters were then called to the scene and two jet skis were deployed in a new effort to help Aiello return to shore.

Upon reaching Aiello, one firefighter put his arm out toward Aiello to assist him during the attempted rescue. Aiello then swung at the firefighter with closed-fist punches, according to the police report.

Aiello was eventually put onto a jet ski and taken to shore, where the Surfside Beach Police Department arrested him for disregarding beach patrol authority and assault and battery in the third degree.

According to the police report, when asked by a Surfside Beach police officer why he had acted the way he did in the water, Aiello responded, “Someone posted on Facebook and there’s no coming back from what that person posted,” but provided no further clarification.

Aiello is currently being held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center with a $1,500 bond.