At approximately 9:25 a.m. this morning, the South Walton Fire District (SWFD) received a call reporting an unconscious person had been pulled from the surf in the area across from the Surfside Condominiums in Miramar Beach.
According to responders a 45 year old male had entered the water in an unguarded beach area and was apparently caught in a “rip current”. After attempting to swim out of the current, the victim (unknown name at this time) was taken under water. Nearby beach vendors witnessed this and retrieved the swimmer. Once on shore, the victim was immediately attended to by SWFD Paramedics who were successful in providing CPR and resuscitating him. He was transported by SWFD to the hospital where his condition has been listed as critical but stable.
At the time of the incident, the beach warning flags were Red indicating a High Hazard, High surf and/or currents. Currently the beach flags have been changed in South Walton to Double Red indicating that the water is closed to the public.
The SWFD urges all beachgoers to know their swimming capabilities, understand and heed the beach safety warning flags, the direction of lifeguards, and swim in front of a lifeguard tower. The location of this incident was over a mile away from the nearest SWFD Lifeguard Tower.
For more information please contact Sammy Sanchez, Fire Marshal/PIO and visit our website at www.swfd.org
According to responders a 45 year old male had entered the water in an unguarded beach area and was apparently caught in a “rip current”. After attempting to swim out of the current, the victim (unknown name at this time) was taken under water. Nearby beach vendors witnessed this and retrieved the swimmer. Once on shore, the victim was immediately attended to by SWFD Paramedics who were successful in providing CPR and resuscitating him. He was transported by SWFD to the hospital where his condition has been listed as critical but stable.
At the time of the incident, the beach warning flags were Red indicating a High Hazard, High surf and/or currents. Currently the beach flags have been changed in South Walton to Double Red indicating that the water is closed to the public.
The SWFD urges all beachgoers to know their swimming capabilities, understand and heed the beach safety warning flags, the direction of lifeguards, and swim in front of a lifeguard tower. The location of this incident was over a mile away from the nearest SWFD Lifeguard Tower.
For more information please contact Sammy Sanchez, Fire Marshal/PIO and visit our website at www.swfd.org
