Three Alabama men tragically drowned on Friday evening after being caught in a rip current shortly after arriving at Panama City Beach, Florida.
The men, identified as Harold Denzel Hunter, 25, Jemonda Ray, 24, and Marius Richardson, 24, had just checked into their rental and decided to go for a swim.
They were quickly swept away by the dangerous current, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities received the distress call shortly after 8 p.m., prompting immediate rescue efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard and local responders. As per to the official source by abcnews
Despite their efforts, the three men were found separately and pronounced dead at area hospitals. This incident comes on the heels of another tragic drowning involving a Pennsylvania couple.
Earlier in the week, Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishard, 48, drowned after being caught in a rip current while swimming off Hutchinson Island, Florida.
The couple, visiting with their six children, found themselves in perilous waters along with two of their teenage children.
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The children managed to escape the current and attempted to rescue their parents but were forced to swim ashore due to the hazardous conditions.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office reported that Martin County Ocean Rescue performed life-saving measures on the couple, but they were ultimately pronounced dead at a local hospital.
This series of drownings highlights the dangers of rip currents and the importance of adhering to beach safety warnings.
Beachgoers in both incidents were met with high-hazard surf conditions, indicated by single red flags.
Authorities continue to urge visitors to heed these warnings and exercise extreme caution while swimming in the ocean, especially under high-risk conditions. The recent tragedies serve as a sobering reminder of the ocean’s unpredictable and often dangerous nature.