HURON, Ohio — They were no more than knee-deep in water, seemingly safe from churning Lake Erie waves whipped up by unusually strong winds.

        Nine friends enjoying a hot, sunny summer day at the beach.

        The waves grabbed Amy Anderson first, pulling her under. She came up screaming, and her fiance and three friends fought against the surf to save her.

        The four men didn't make it, disappearing under the waters shortly after arriving at the shore with their pals and two coolers packed with food and drinks.

        “In 15 minutes, I lost a brother, a brother-in-law and two friends,” said Talon Smith.

        Blustery winds on Wednesday made Lake Erie's waves resemble an ocean, stirring up white caps not usually found along Ohio's beaches. It was so rough that charter boats canceled their fishing trips.

        Ms. Anderson, 22, and her friends piled into two cars for their trip to Nickel Plate Beach. Told at the gate that they couldn't swim because the water was too rough, they were disappointed but decided to stay.

        Fliers handed to visitors warned that “if the waves look dangerous ... they probably are.”

        They spread out beach blankets and took some pictures. Three knew each other from unloading trucks at a Wal-Mart in Findlay. Mr. Smith's brother-in-law, Kyle Kroetz, had the day off and brought his wife, Rachel. His 4-year-old daughter stayed behind.

        Rachel Kroetz and a few others sat on the beach about 50 miles west of Cleveland. Parents and children from cottages played in the sand. Most didn't go in the water as waves reached 4 to 6 feet.

        Ms. Anderson told authorities she was little more than ankle deep in the water when the waves knocked her down. The current pushed her farther from shore.

        Her fiance, Steve Cupec, yelled for help.

        She heard their cries but had no idea where they were. She somehow stayed above water until two off-duty firefighters tugged her toward shore and she was picked up by rescuers in a boat.

        Firefighters didn't know the four men were still in the water until their friends ran toward them screaming.

        Eight firefighters tied themselves together with a rope and went back in but found no sign of Mr. Smith's younger brother, Jehrod, 19, of nearby Sandusky; and Mr. Kroetz, 29; Mr. Cupec, 27; and Matthew Smith, 21, all of Findlay.

        Their bodies were recovered over the weekend and taken for autopsies.

        Talon Smith, who didn't go with the group but later watched part of the search for the bodies, said he can't understand why people were allowed on the beach at all.

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