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Teresa

SoWal Guide
Staff member
Nov 15, 2004
30,246
9,279
South Walton, FL
sowal.com
Here's a brief summary of South Walton Fire District (SWFD) response activity for the month of June 2018. In addition to this activity, the SWFD Beach Safety Division responded to 15 water rescues, 213 assists, 71 lost person calls and initiated 463,016 customer contacts on the beach.

When you head to the beach, don't forget to
• Obey the beach flag system
• Swim near SWFD Lifeguards
• Stay hydrated
• Always keep a watchful eye on your kids.

We appreciate your continued support and as always, stay safe!

FB_IMG_1531264652382.jpg
 

BlueMtnBeachVagrant

Beach Fanatic
Jun 20, 2005
1,305
386
Good advice.

Does anyone have the details regarding the drowning that took place at Grayton Beach on the afternoon of July 3rd? It's had to believe there's not one mention of it when Googling the internet, even here on SoWal.
 

Old Blue

Beach Comber
Jul 9, 2005
7
12
A 68 year old man from Freeport who drowned saving his young nephew, after quite an effort to resuscitate him on the beach at Grayton that afternoon. He was a neighbor of my close friend which is the only way that I heard about it. Makes you wonder how many drownings actually took place during the holiday week, since, unlike previous July 4th weeks, there were NONE reported by the media. Hopefully, this is the only one. Prayers to the family of the victim, who obviously was a hero.
 

BlueMtnBeachVagrant

Beach Fanatic
Jun 20, 2005
1,305
386
Thanks for the info. I found it interesting that there were rip current warnings that entire day (July 3rd) along with the water being fairly rough of course. But only the yellow flags were flying.

On July 4th, I approached our local lifeguards at the beach to confirm what little I had heard. They would not say anything....not even at least confirm that a drowning took place. They were obviously reacting as they have been trained.
 

BlueMtnBeachVagrant

Beach Fanatic
Jun 20, 2005
1,305
386
After not seeing any news articles and the lifeguards being mum, is there a conspiracy in this county to sweep drownings under the sand in all the guiding light of not scaring tourists away? Or is this silence simply prompted by potential liability?

Dissemination of info could possibly help avoid the potential deaths of future beach goers.

In memory.
 

Mike Jones

Beach Fanatic
Dec 24, 2008
349
195
Not sure what happened. There may not be much known. Pretty insensitive of you to bring up conspiracy instead of honoring the man at this time.

Do you think someone is trying to cover up the fact that people drown here? Like every where else in the world where there is water?

It's common for the person trying to help another in trouble to drown. It's also frequent that yellow flags fly over yellow flag water but rip currents exist. Especially a day or 2 after high surf it can be pretty calm with hidden rip currents.

The info that needs to be disseminated is about rip currents, the flag system, where Lifeguard towers are, and not to enter water without a board or float especially for kids and weak swimmers.
 

BlueMtnBeachVagrant

Beach Fanatic
Jun 20, 2005
1,305
386
.....Pretty insensitive of you to bring up conspiracy instead of honoring the man at this time.

I and many others have already honored the man over 2 weeks ago at his memorial service. Of course you (and others) may not have had the opportunity because of lack of information. What is a good "time" to bring this subject up at which point I would not be judged insensitive? 3 weeks? 1 month? 1 year?

Do you think someone is trying to cover up the fact that people drown here?

If the shoe fits.
 

enfuego

Beach Lover
May 10, 2007
146
66
Paradise
After not seeing any news articles and the lifeguards being mum, is there a conspiracy in this county to sweep drownings under the sand in all the guiding light of not scaring tourists away? Or is this silence simply prompted by potential liability?

Dissemination of info could possibly help avoid the potential deaths of future beach goers.

In memory.
Its not from liability, it is about complying with patient confidentiality that asking a lifeguard does not satisfy your curiosity. Any questions regarding this incident should be directed to SWFD at 267-1298.
 

BlueMtnBeachVagrant

Beach Fanatic
Jun 20, 2005
1,305
386
Its not from liability, it is about complying with patient confidentiality that asking a lifeguard does not satisfy your curiosity. Any questions regarding this incident should be directed to SWFD at 267-1298.

The name may have been confidential at the time but not the event which occurred in a public place.

Do you not find the lack of any public information other than his obituary troubling?...like what occurred and who was involved?
 

BlueMtnBeachVagrant

Beach Fanatic
Jun 20, 2005
1,305
386
This is what we should expect at a minimum. With all due respect, one should not have to call SWFD to learn about these tragedies.

From Destin Log on 8-2-2018:

By Staff report
Posted Aug 2, 2018 at 1:19 PM
Updated Aug 2, 2018 at 3:30 PM

March 17, Destin: Roscoe Brooks, 43, of Shannon, Mississippi, was pulled from the Gulf after a witness spotted Brooks in trouble on a boogie board around 1:15 p.m. offshore of 2700 Scenic Highway 98. Destin Beach Safety and a beach attendant rushed to his aid but reported that Brooks was unconscious and unresponsive when they pulled him ashore and began CPR. He was pronounced dead at the Destin Emergency Room.

March 26, Navarre Beach: Air Force veteran Michael Robidoux of Navarre - a good Samaritan who attempted to rescue a distressed 10-year-old swimmer on March 24 - died two days later. Crews were dispatched to lifeguard tower 3 to assist three distressed swimmers around 6:14 p.m. A firefighter tried to get to the swimmers by riding a personal watercraft, but the rough surf did not allow it. Two nearby surfers saved the two young swimmers, but a witness reported that a third good Samaritan got caught in an undertow while trying to save one of the young swimmers. Alexander Julio, 27, a Navarre Beach resident and avid swimmer, helped pull the 10-year-old out of the water.

May 26, Crab Island: Essie Mitchell, 36, of Mobile, Alabama. was the sand bar’s first victim of the year. He died in an apparent drowning after he went down a boat slide and was then found floating face down. He was taken to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, where the medical staff said he had water in his lungs. He was pronounced dead later that day.

July 4, Destin: Fleetwood Hines Jr., 63, of Alabama was pronounced dead at a local hospital a day after he was pulled from the Gulf of Mexico on July 3. A lifeguard from Destin Fire Control District assisted patrons who were trying to pull Hines from the water off Henderson Beach State Park in Destin. The lifeguard also performed CPR and took him to a waiting ambulance. Destin lifeguards rescued 43 people that day as rip currents were present up and down the beach. A younger person was also taken to a hospital that day, but survived.

July 5, Crab Island: The body of Pethiley Deusete Lopez Maximo, 20, of Destin was found on the morning of July 5 by divers after friends told deputies he was last seen wading in waist-high water the night before near the west side of the bridge.

July 16, Crab Island: Hamza Abusabeel, 28, from Dallas, Texas died two days after he was pulled from the water on July 14. Friends say he tried to swim from the northwest corner of the Marler Bridge to Crab Island.

July 22, Crab Island: 18-year-old Zion Foster of Pensacola became Crab Island’s fourth victim of 2018 when he was swept away in a strong current and was unable to get back to his pontoon boat. The incident almost claimed the lives of two bystanders who tried to help Foster but were unsuccessful and had to receive medical treatment. Foster’s body was found by Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office divers the next day.

Aug 1, Okaloosa Island: Sara Sebren, 19, from Pearl, Mississippi was pulled from the surf at about 8 p.m. near beach access No. 7 on Santa Rosa Boulevard. She had been swimming with friends when they said she began struggling in the water. The group was about 250 feet from shore. Her friends were able to help her to shore with the aid of a flotation device. Firefighters from the Okaloosa Island Fire District began lifesaving measures until she could be taken to the hospital by ambulance, where she was pronounced dead. The other two swimmers did not require medical treatment.
 
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