Parents drown in Florida beach rip currents while vacationing with 6 children

Scott Sistek
·2 min read

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The mother and father of six mostly teen children drowned Thursday after getting pulled out to sea in strong rip currents while on a family vacation in Florida.

The Pennsylvania family was spending the day at a Hutchinson Island beach near Port St. Lucie Thursday afternoon when the 51-year-old father, the 48-year-old mother and two teen children were swept out by a rip current, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

The kids were able to break the current and attempted to go help their parents, but conditions remained too dangerous, and they were forced to swim to shore.

Ocean rescue crews located the parents who were unconscious, brought them to shore and gave CPR as medics rushed to the scene.

The two were brought to a local hospital where they were later pronounced dead.

And a man vacationing from Oklahoma is believed to have drowned along the Florida Panhandle on Thursday, according to Panama City Beach Fire Rescue.

Beach lifeguards were flying single red flags warning of the rough surf conditions, when the man was overpowered by a rip current.

First responders said he was transported to a local medical center where he was pronounced deceased.

Rip currents are strong, narrow currents that move away from the shore and out to sea at high speed, occurring at any beach that has breaking waves.

"If you do get caught in a rip current, the best thing you can do is stay calm," Dr. Gregory Dusek said in NOAA's rip current survival guide. "It's not going to pull you underwater; it's just going to pull you away from shore."

You’re advised to call and wave for help to get the attention of a lifeguard on duty. Do your best to float, and don't swim back toward the shore (against the rip current) because it will just make you tired.

MORE: HOW TO SURVIVE RIP CURRENTS

Rip currents account for an estimated 100 deaths on average each year, NOAA said. The couple mark the fourth and fifth deaths due to rip currents in the U.S. so far this year. Eight others have been killed in Puerto Rico.


Original article source: Parents drown in Florida beach rip currents while vacationing with 6 children