A couple caught in a rip current while vacationing at a Florida beach with their six children tragically drowned in front of them.
Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishart, 48, of Pennsylvania, were enjoying Hutchinson Island with their teenage kids on Thursday near the 100 block of Northeast Tradewind Lane.
‘While in the water, the couple and two of the teens got swept out by a rip current,’ stated the Martin County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook.
‘The kids were able to break the current and attempted to help their parents, but it became too dangerous and they were forced to swim ashore.’
County ocean rescue crews found the victims and started administering CPR on the shore.
‘Those life-saving efforts continued in the ambulance and at the hospital where doctors gave it every last effort before declaring the couple deceased,’ wrote the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s crisis intervention team deputy assisted the kids for the rest of the day and evening until their other family members arrived.
Chief Deputy John Budensiek said one of the children ‘was trying to yell them instructions of how to swim parallel to the shore’ instead of fighting the current, ‘but they were in panic mode and, unfortunately, went under’.
Warter’s neighbor, Susan Verdecchia, said he and Wishart had been dating for a couple of years and that their six children were from other relationships.
‘He was warm. Very considerate. Bright man. Loved his children. Was very patient with them,’ Verdecchia told WPTV. ‘He was a wonderful father and a really good neighbor. And we are very, very sad. And we’re gonna miss him.’
Lifeguards flew double red flags immediately after the deaths, signaling that no one was allowed to enter the ocean.
The red flag warning was sent out on Friday for Hobe Sound Beach, Jensen Beach and Stuart Beach, warning of ‘extreme rip current risk’ and four to six-foot waves.
‘Please do NOT enter the water if unsure of swimming ability and if you do, use a flotation device and stay close to shore,’ posted Martin County Fire Rescue on Facebook on Friday. ‘Always swim near a lifeguard.’
The couple died after a teenage boy drowned at Sandy Hook Beach in New Jersey over Memorial Day weekend last year, and five others were rescued.
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