In Florida, tragedy struck once again as three men lost their lives in a riptide, only a day after a couple on vacation drowned on the state’s southeast coast.
According to an updated Facebook post by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday evening, three young men from Alabama, Harold Denzel Hunter (25), Jemonda Ray (24), and Marius Richardson (24), lost their lives in a riptide in Florida on Friday. They had traveled to the Panama City Beach area with some friends and had just checked into their rental home. Unfortunately, while taking a swim, they got into distress and were unable to overcome the strong current.
According to the post, the three men got caught in a rip current soon after they had entered the water.
Officials reported that at around 8pm, distressed swimmers were reported to the sheriff’s office, prompting a swift response from the U.S. Coast Guard and other rescuers. Despite their efforts, the men were found separately and were later declared dead upon arrival at nearby hospitals, according to authorities.
A few days ago, the beach authorities had put up red flags to warn people about the dangerous surf and rip currents. Tragically, on Thursday, a couple from Pennsylvania, who were on vacation in Florida with their six children, lost their lives as they were swept away by a rip current while swimming.
According to a Facebook post by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Brian Warter and Erica Wishard, along with their mostly teenage children, found themselves caught in the current on Hutchinson Island, located on Florida’s southeast coast. Despite their efforts, the parents were unable to break free of the dangerous situation, while their children managed to swim ashore when conditions became too perilous. The incident occurred when Warter was 51 and Wishard was 48 years old.
According to the sheriff’s office, the couple was taken to a nearby hospital by Martin County Ocean Rescue after attempts to save their lives were made. Despite the efforts, they were later declared dead.
According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, the children managed to escape the current and tried to assist their parents. However, the situation escalated quickly, and it became too risky for them to continue. The Martin County Ocean Rescue team found the victims and immediately began performing CPR on the shore. Despite their valiant efforts, the couple passed away at the hospital, where the medical staff tried everything in their power to save their lives.
As per the police report, the Crisis Intervention Team Deputy of Martin County Sheriff’s office provided assistance to the children of the couple both during the day and night, while they waited for their family members to arrive in Florida.
