Mary Creighton drowned trying to rescue 2 girls at Lake Erie

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Two young girls were struggling to swim in the waters at Wendt Beach
The mother of one of the girls rushed into the water to try and save them
Authorities were able to rescue the two girls, but the mother drowned
Officials say there were no lifeguards on duty because swimming isn't allowed at that beach

Published: 08:56 EST, 31 July 2015 | Updated: 20:31 EST, 31 July 2015

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A heroic 51-year-old mother tragically drowned after trying to rescue two young girls, one of whom which was her daughter, from Lake Erie on Thursday evening.

Authorities identified the mother as Mary E. Creighton of Buffalo, New York.

The girls, ages 10 and 11, began struggling in the dangerous waters about 100 yards from shore when the woman rushed in to try and help them.

WGRZ reported the water was extremely rough with waves between five and seven feet high, making it difficult for rescuers to try and save all three of them.

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Tragedy: Mary E. Creighton (photo above) drowned after trying to save two girls in the waters off Wendt Beach in Evans, New York on Thursday evening

Hero: Creighton (photo above) rushed into the rough waters of Lake Erie when she realized the girls were having a tough time swimming. Officials recovered her body about a mile away

A bystander helped the 10-year-old girl make it back to shore and told police that there were still two people in the water who needed help.

'My officers immediately started running and looking up and down the beach,' Evans Police Chief Ernie Masullo told WGRZ.

'They did notice a young girl bobbing in the water. One of my lieutenants stripped his uniform, stripped his firearm and ran into the water about a 100 yards out and grabbed the girl.

'He became in trouble and one of my other officers ran in and rescued both of them.'

Police describe scene as girls struggled in rough waters

No lifeguards: Officials say there were no lifeguards on duty at Wendt Beach, because swimming isn't allowed there due to the rough waters

Rescue effort: Mary Creighton, of Buffalo, was killed in the incident but her daughter and young friend survived

Officer Jeffrey DeVinney helped to bring the young girl to shore.

North Evans Fire District Chief Nick Mecca told WGRZ that kids don't realize the danger because they're out having fun.

'When the lake gets like this, be very, very careful,' Mecca warned.

'It's best not to even be out in it when the waves are just slamming like they were.

'It was very, very rough when we got down here.'

Authorities have not released the identities or conditions of the rescued girls who were taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

Erie County's Air One helicopter spotted Creighton's body, where it was recovered about a mile from where the original incident occurred.

There are no lifeguards on duty and swimming is not allowed at Wendt Beach, because of the rough conditions of the water.

Popular spot: The Wendt Beach Park is a 170-acre lake front estate that is the property of Erie County. It also features a picnic area and a playground

However, swimming is allowed at nearby Bennet Beach, but lifeguards kept people from going too far into the water because of high waves and rough water.

WGRZ reported there hasn't been a drowning at any Evans' beaches in at least 10 years.