GhLinks Media
A Pennsylvania couple has died after police said the pair was caught in a rip current while vacationing in Florida.
Investigators identified the victims as Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishard, 48.
Police said they were vacationing with their six children, most of whom are teenagers, when they were caught in the rip current while swimming in the ocean Thursday afternoon at Stuart Beach, which is just north of West Palm Beach.
Police said the couple’s children called 911.
“Multiple witnesses told our investigators that both the male and female, who are now deceased, got in the ocean, right into a rip current and immediately were pulled from the shore. One of the children of the deceased tried to yell to them instructions on how to swim parallel to the shore, but they were in panic mode and unfortunately went under,” said Martin County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy John Bedensiek.
The sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post that two of the teenage children were also caught up in the rip current, but were able to get out.
They tried to help their parents, but it became too dangerous and they were forced to swim to shore.
Lifeguards say the couple was unconscious when they were pulled from the water. They were pronounced dead at the hospital.
Investigators have not released where the family lived in Pennsylvania.
“A Martin County Sheriff’s Crisis Intervention Team Deputy assisted the couple’s children throughout the day and evening as they await the arrival of other family members into Florida,” the sheriff’s office Facebook post said.
