Five rescued from rip at SA beach

Five people have been taken to hospital following a swimming mishap at a beach south of Adelaide.

The group were caught in a rip at Petrel Cove, near Encounter Bay, shortly before 2pm on Sunday.

Bystanders helped pull the swimmers from the water.

They were treated by paramedics at the scene, police say.

A man in his 50s has been flown to the Flinders Medical Centre in a serious but stable condition.

A man in his 20s, two women in their 20s and a teenage girl were taken to local hospitals.