First responders describe efforts to reach man and woman who drowned in rip current
MARTIN COUNTY — The day after the drowning deaths two people who were pulled into a rip tide while swimming at a private beach, fire rescue officials spoke about the efforts to reach the man and woman in the rough waters off Hutchinson Island Thursday.
Despite what was described as an immediate effort to reach the family caught in the rip current south of the guarded Stuart Beach area, the man and woman died after lifesaving efforts of Martin County Fire Rescue Ocean Rescue and medical workers at Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital where they were taken in what was said to be serious condition and later declared dead.
The couple were identified as Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishard, 48, who were on vacation in Florida along with their six children from Pennsylvania, according to Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
“Our lifeguards spotted them from their tower at Stuart beach,” said Martin County Fire Rescue spokesperson Cory Pippin. “They got directly into a rip current.”
After seeing the family enter the ocean “directly into a rip current,” lifeguards began making their way south from a county park tower to the swimmers being carried into the rough waters along a private beach area near Hutchinson Island area resorts and condos.
The lifeguards traveled on all-terrain vehicles from a Stuart Beach Park guard tower to the north to help what was at one time four people struggling against the current Thursday.
As they traveled south to the shoreline near a Hutchinson Island Resort Marriott at 109 Northeast Tradewind Lane, emergency dispatchers began receiving 911 calls requesting help for distressed swimmers around 1:30 p.m., Pippin said.
“Our lifeguards responded immediately when they saw the victims getting in the water,” said Pippin. “… (they) actually saw the swimmers in the water and were responding when the 911 call came in.”
Two of the teenage children were also swept out by the current and attempted to save their parents but as water conditions worsened they were able to free themselves and swim to shore, according to Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
Pippin said Warter and Wishard were in the water for several minutes and were partially submerged, but were still afloat when they were reached and pulled to shore by lifeguards using fins and buoys.
Water conditions at local parks that day were considered hazardous with high surf and strong currents, or what is known as red flag conditions.
After the two were pulled from the water, Pippin said beaches were closed to swimmers with a double-red flag.
More: Florida beaches on alert for highly dangerous rip currents through Friday. How to stay safe
“The ocean out here, it doesn’t take long for you to get in trouble, and for someone to end up in a potentially deadly situation,” he said. “Always swim in a lifeguarded beach and know your swimming ability.”
He said there was still high surf and rip current potential at beaches Friday, and advised beachgoers to pay attention to flags and water conditions. Swimmers also can check Martin County Fire Rescue social media posts for daily beach reports.
“It does not take long at all for a family vacation or an outing to turn tragic if you are caught in a rip current.”
Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. Follow @coreyarwood on X, email corey.arwood@tcpalm.com or call 772-978-2246.
More: Standoff ends Friday after woman allegedly shoots boyfriend, barricades herself in home
More: Owner of Pawsitively Paradise in Palm City arrested on animal cruelty charge
More: Port St. Lucie picks current interim for next city attorney after interviewing two others
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida lifeguards rushed to reach PA couple drowned in rip current
