Tourists Vacationing In Stuart Drown In Apparent Rip Current

Tragedy on the Treasure Coast as two tourists from Pennsylvania drowned in the waters off Stuart Beach.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office says a family of eight was enjoying a day at the beach when the parents of six kids got caught in a possible rip current.

Sheriff-elect John Budensiek tells CBS 12 News that Brian Warter and Erica Wishard were pulled from the surf, but it was too late.

"One of the children, an adult, had called 911 and our dispatchers could hear that child yelling to their parents to swim diagonally...trying to talk them through fighting a rip current. But, unfortunately they were unsuccessful."

It happened behind a Marriott and there were lifeguards at a stand about 400 to 500 yards away, according to Martin County Fire Rescue.

Lifeguards pulled the victims out of the water and fire rescue took them to the hospital, where they would be pronounced dead.

Officials say single red flags were raised at the time of the incident, warning of rough surf. After the incident, lifeguards had double red flags flying and the water was closed to the public.


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