Pennsylvania couple die after getting caught in rip current on Hutchinson Island
MARTIN COUNTY — A Pennsylvania couple vacationing on the beach in Hutchinson Island drowned Thursday after getting caught in a rip current, local authorities said.
On Thursday afternoon, a mother and father who had traveled to Florida with their six children got caught in a rip current while swimming off of Stuart Beach, the Martin County Sheriff's Office said.
Martin County Fire Rescue crews were called at 1:30 p.m. Thursday for four missing swimmers, possibly struggling in a rip current, said Cory Pippin, fire rescue spokesperson. The location was in the area of the Marriott Hutchinson Island Beach Resort, Golf & Marina.
The man and woman were identified as Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishard, 48, the sheriff's office said. They leave behind the six siblings, who are mostly teenaged, according to the sheriff's office.
The couple's children and emergency responders tried to save the couple and administered CPR on shore and later on an ambulance that took them to Cleveland Clinic North Hospital in Stuart.
Two additional swimmers initially included in the incident swam to shore safely and were not hurt, Pippin said.
Pippin noted there were red flag conditions at the beach, indicating rough surf with the potential for rip currents.
What were the conditions at the beach?
A disturbance off the east coast is churning up waters on Florida's east coast.
Coastal Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties are under a high-risk rip current advisory untill Friday evening.
"Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water," the National Weather Service said. "Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help."
What are rip currents?
Rip currents are powerful, concentrated channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, most often found at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and near structures such as jetties and piers.
Rip currents form when incoming waves create an underwater sandbar. The waves push more water between the sandbar and the shore until it collapses and the water rushes back to the sea through a narrow gap, where it starts to spread out. But they can be difficult to see when you're in the water as the ocean over them can still be smooth.
Rip currents often form during or after stormy weather but can form on bright, sunny days just as easily since the weather isn't really what's causing them. Rip currents can be found at any beach with waves, at any time.
What should you do if you're caught in a rip current?
By far the most important thing to do is to stay calm, and even try to relax. They can be scary, but rip currents will only pull you along, they won't pull you under the water. The biggest danger is tiring yourself out.
Don't panic or thrash about. Don't bother trying to fight the current.
You may be able to get out of the current by swimming with it parallel to the shore (or just floating or treading water) until it fades or circulates back to shore, and then you can swim to the beach.
You also can try swimming with the current toward breaking waves, where you may be able to swim for shore.
If you can't reach the shore or you're being pulled farther out to sea, or you're getting tired, draw attention to yourself by waving or shouting for help.
How many people die in rip currents?
Rip currents are habitual hazards of Florida beaches. Tens of thousands are rescued from rip currents in the U.S, every year and they make up 81.9% of all surf beach rescues, according to a 2018 report from the Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences on lifeguard data.
The United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) has estimated that over 100 people drown every year in this country due to rip currents.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Two swimmers die after being pulled from ocean in Martin County
