Authorities have reported that a couple from Pennsylvania tragically drowned in a rip current while enjoying their vacation in Florida with their six children.
According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Brian Warter (51) and Erica Wishard (48) along with their two teenage children were swimming on Hutchinson Island on Thursday afternoon when they got caught by a rip current and were swept out to sea.
Related posts
According to the sheriff’s office, the parents of the teens were in danger and as a result, the teens attempted to rescue them. Unfortunately, the situation became too risky, and the teens had no choice but to swim ashore in order to escape.
According to the sheriff’s office, Warter and Wishard were discovered by responders who administered CPR on the shore. Despite their efforts, the couple was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
As the children wait for their family members to meet them in Florida, the sheriff’s office has reported that their crisis intervention team deputy is providing them with assistance.
Martin County Fire Rescue will assess the situation on Friday morning to determine whether the public can access the ocean or not.
When swimming in the ocean, it’s important to be aware of rip currents. These powerful currents flow out toward the ocean and can swiftly pull a swimmer away from the shore. While most rip currents move at a speed of 1 to 2 feet per second, some can be as fast as 8 feet per second, making them faster than an Olympic swimmer, warns the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
