Tragedy struck a family from Pennsylvania when they were caught in a rip current while swimming. The couple and their six children lost their lives in the incident, according to authorities.
According to reports from the fire rescue and sheriff’s office in Martin County, a family of four, including the parents and two teenagers, were swept out of Stuart Beach on Hutchinson Island on Thursday afternoon.
As per a Facebook post by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, the children attempted to assist their parents by battling the strong current. However, the situation became too perilous, and they had to swim to safety.
The rescue team from Martin County swiftly located and rescued Brian Warter (51) and Erica Wishard (48), the parents in distress, displaying their exceptional life-saving skills.
Despite the valiant efforts of their loved ones, Martin County Ocean Rescue, firefighters, and medical professionals at Cleveland Clinic North, the couple still tragically passed away.
According to a chief deputy from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, as reported by NBC station WPTV in West Palm Beach, one of the children attempted to shout at Warter and Wishard, urging them to swim parallel to the shore.
According to Budensiek, the parents were in a state of panic and ended up going under.
When swimming, it is advised to avoid going against the flow and to wait until out of the flow to swim to land. In case someone is unable to get away, it is recommended to float or tread water and signal for help by waving or yelling.
During an interview with the news station, Budensiek emphasized the importance of being knowledgeable about rip tides, especially for those who are not familiar with the area. He pointed out that visitors from different countries may not be aware of the right and wrong places to go in the ocean, which can result in dangerous situations. Despite efforts to educate everyone, it is not always possible to reach every individual.
In a Facebook post on Thursday morning, the sheriff’s office reported that Stuart Beach was under a red flag warning, indicating a heightened risk. The warning also indicated a strong possibility of rip currents occurring.
Martin County Fire Rescue has reported that the beach was deemed unsafe for swimming after an unfortunate drowning incident. As a result, the lights were changed to double red to indicate the hazardous conditions.
Throughout the day, the sheriff’s office provided assistance to six teenagers, who are primarily in their teenage years, until their family members arrived in Florida.