After a series of “tragic” deaths within nine days, Panama City Beach has recorded the highest number of beach fatalities in the U.S. for the year despite warnings from life guards.
Published Jun 27, 2023 2:35 PM EDT | Updated Jun 28, 2023 8:52 AM EDT
Three more tourists died in separate incidents after swimming in the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend under dangerous surf conditions, adding to the growing number of water fatalities in the United States this year.
Including these fatalities, Panama Beach has seen seven surf fatalities within the span of nine days. The latest deaths occurred Saturday, June 24, off of Panama Beach, Florida, according to the Panama City Beach Police Department. The department responded to "three separate fatal water incidents behind three different resorts," police said, adding that all three individuals had been pulled from the water unresponsive.
Conditions at the time had been severe, with double-red flags, which indicate extreme water hazards. The warning had been in place for the last week, communicating that the water was off limits and the beach closed to the public.
"Often, this means very dangerous ocean conditions, such as strong rip currents, and beachgoers should stay out of the water when these flags are present," Elyssa Finkelstein, a then-spokesperson for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, told AccuWeather in a past interview.
In Bay County, violators of double-red flags could be issued a $500 fine and could be arrested on the second offense.
Rip currents off the coast of Panama City Beach dug trenches into the ocean sand over the weekend, showing the power of the currents. Three people swept away from the shore at Panama City Beach over the weekend in separate incidents due to these rip currents. While they were pulled back ashore, all three were pronounced dead. (Facebook/Bay County Sheriff's Office)
"I’m beyond frustrated at the situation that we have with tragic and unnecessary deaths in the Gulf," Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford posted on Facebook. "I have watched while deputies, firefighters and lifeguards have risked their lives to save strangers. I have seen strangers die trying to save their children and loved ones, including two fathers on Father's Day."
Christopher Pierce, 47, of Helena, Alabama, drowned off the coast of Panama City Beach, on June 18 while trying to rescue his daughter from a rip current. While he saved her life, he himself got caught in the rip current.
Seven people have died off the coast of Panama City Beach over nine days, from June 15 to June 24, bringing Florida's tally surf zone fatalities this year to 27, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Overall, the NWS has recorded 60 surf zone fatalities across all 50 U.S. states and its territories.
Florida holds the unwanted ranking of highest count of surf zone fatalities. Puerto Rico, with half as many surf zone deaths as Florida, follows at 13.
The database by the NWS that tracks these incidents accounts for rip currents, high surf, sneaker waves and other dangerous surf conditions. The year 2021 saw the highest number of rip current deaths, according to the NWS, with 111 fatalities. The 10-year average for rip current fatalities is 71.
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