10 pulled from Gulf Friday (Apr 10)

**SHELLY** · 04-10-2009, 07:54 PM

RED FLAGS!!!

10 pulled from Gulf Friday, surf conditions same through weekend
April 10, 2009 - 7:32 PM

A total of 10 people were pulled from the surf in South Walton County and in Destin on Friday while red beach flag warned of dangerous conditions.

One of the victims was taken to a local hospital after rescuers performed CPR.

Walton County upped their warning to a double red post after four people were rescued in 4-foot seas late Friday morning, South Walton Fire District Chief Rick Talbert said. Before lifeguards finished changing the flags, another person was pulled from the Gulf of Mexico. All refused medical help.

"They were just rather scared and exhausted from the experience," Talbert said.

In Destin, a father went into the water after his struggling son near Holiday Beach Resport about 1 p.m. They were rescued by Destin Beach Safety Patrol lifeguards.

"Whenever there's a fatality it's usually the would-be rescuer that is harmed," Destin Beach Safety Chief Joe D'Agostino said. "We really advise to call 911 for help."

D'Agostino said lifeguards went off duty at 4:30 p.m. A call then came in just after 5 p.m. about one adult man and two young girls in distress near Crystal Beach Park.

D'Agostino and a team of lifeguards and firefighters redeployed to assist the swimmers, but other beach-goers were able to pull them to safety before they arrived.

The two girls did not require medical attention, but the man was not breathing. Rescuers performed CPR on him before he was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast in Santa Rosa Beach.

His name has not been released and his condition was unavailable Friday night.

"While we were on service, we had the situation managed," D'Agostino said. "But we can't be out there 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

On Okaloosa Island, lifeguards patrolled the beach Friday to warn people to stay out of the water Friday.

"The surf is big and very dangerous and there are rip currents all over the place," said Tracey Vause, Okaloosa County's beach safety division chief. "We're putting a lot of time and effort into making contact with everyone on the beach we can."

Forecast models show surf conditions will be rough through the weekend, although flags may be changed to yellow on Sunday, Vause said. Rough surf is also expected Monday through Wednesday.

"We're watching and monitoring the weather and water closely," Talbert said. "The weather is beautiful and folks want to get out there, but we've had those storms and the sandbars get scalloped and drop off. Rip currents are more prevalent"

**ItzKatzTime** · 04-10-2009, 08:58 PM

Please I hope this thread doesn't go where the last one did. Let's stay positive about our visitors and locals involved. These are trying times and we all need to be thankful for each other. Many people were helped today thank God!

**Bobby J** · 04-10-2009, 11:41 PM

I do not remember this problem growing up here.

It seems like people are always having problems in the rip these days.

**seagrovegirl** · 04-11-2009, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Bobby J

I do not remember this problem growing up here.

It seems like people are always having problems in the rip these days.

I've thought the same thing.......we didn't have drownings until about 10 years ago. Did a hurricane change the ocean floor?

I used to get in the rough water and had a problem once, but was able to get out of it........but when we were growing up it wasn't a problem getting into high surf...now....it scares me.

**Bobby J** · 04-11-2009, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by seagrovegirl

I've thought the same thing.......we didn't have drownings until about 10 years ago. Did a hurricane change the ocean floor?

I used to get in the rough water and had a problem once, but was able to get out of it........but when we were growing up it wasn't a problem getting into high surf...now....it scares me.

It is puzzling. The surf actually seems better which means something has changed. I bet even a slight change could make for the rips. There was a book written in the 50's called the ever changing coastline. I would imagine a minimal degree shift in an area could make a difference. A rip tide is simply a flowing river within the gulf. We use them when we are lazy and don't want to paddle out through the surf. Hop on a rip and you are out in the lineup in seconds. I do not allow anyone in the family to go in rough surf without something attached to them.

**SHELLY** · 04-11-2009, 03:32 PM

I believe everything changed when Erin and Opal hit in 1995. Before that, the beaches were deep and wide with sugar-white sand, and the Gulf floor was flat, soft and wonderful. Opal was the first major hurricane to hit around this area in over 20 years--and it was a doozy! She flattened most of our dune systems and coastal structures, and rearranged the Gulf floor and sandbars which contributed to riptide formation. Since then we've had quite a few hits and misses that did further damage and re-arranging--hence more riptides. Moreover, Florida's propensity to suck and blow sand and shell-shards from offshore back onto the beaches, isn't making the situation any better.