The outcome could have been tragic Sunday if bay waters were rough and one of three young teens had not used a cell phone to call for help.

Warwick Battalion Chief William Wilson said Monday a call was received from an adult about 4:45 p.m. Sunday that three kids in a small row boat were unable to return to the north stretch of Conimicut beach in the vicinity of the Shawomet Avenue boat ramp. When firefighters arrived, the kids’ parents pointed to the boat that was approaching the shipping channel.

Wilson said Warwick Fire Marine, berthed in Warwick Cove at least three miles away, was dispatched. Cranston Fire was also alerted and dispatched their vessel. Warwick also dispatched two smaller inflatable boats that were launched from Conimicut Point beach.

Wilson said the dingy that two girls and a boy aged 13 and 14 launched from the beach was about eight feet long. None of the juveniles were wearing life jackets. By the time one of the Warwick inflatables reached the dinghy the wind and tide had carried it east of the channel. Wilson said Warwick firefighters passed lifejackets to the kids and assisted as they boarded the larger Cranston Fire Marine vessel. By that time the sun had set and they were close to being on the West Barrington shore. The boats returned to Conimicut where the kids were united with their parents.

“It could have gone very bad very quickly,” Wilson said of the incident. He said the water temperature was 40 degrees, but fortunately the seas were calm and the kids called for help.

Wilson did not have names, but he said it is his understanding the kids and their families were from Connecticut, visiting friends in Warwick.

Wilson said 15 to 16 firefighters responded to the incident between those manning boats and acting as spotters along the Conimicut shoreline, not counting the crew on Cranston Fire Marine.