Death today at Seagrove Beach

[Miss Critter]

Not to cast any disparaging remarks, but a lot of the discussion points have trended towards an implied desire for a "Nanny State" status. What ever happened to people being responsible for their own actions? Just because there are not signs visible at every entrance doesn't imply there is any culpable negligence on the county's part. I'm mean really...it's the Gulf of Mexico. There are currents, waves, and big scary fish with teeth. We all know that. It's called implied risk.

I have stepped down from my soapbox, now. You are free to proceed with the "flaming"!

Please don't misunderstand. In no way did I mean to imply by my question that an owner or the county SHOULD be sued, only that they might be. The "someone else is responsible for my poor choices" attitude seems to be widespread and growing. None of the counties involved has the luxury to decline to rescue those who fail to heed the (multiple) warnings and show little common sense (that should really be re-named; it's all too uncommon these days). I know budgets are already stretched thin. No doubt they are eagerly anticipating the end of swimming season.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Please don't misunderstand. In no way did I mean to imply by my question that an owner or the county SHOULD be sued, only that they might be. The "someone else is responsible for my poor choices" attitude seems to be widespread and growing. None of the counties involved has the luxury to decline to rescue those who fail to heed the (multiple) warnings and show little common sense (that should really be re-named; it's all too uncommon these days). I know budgets are already stretched thin. No doubt they are eagerly anticipating the end of swimming season.

In Walton County, the lifeguards, signage, flags, flag poles, informational materials, etc. are all paid for out of bed tax collections by the TDC. I know the yearly payout is over $750,000 and I believe it is closer to $1 million for these beach safety activities.

 

[ShallowsNole]

Day Two at Beach Citation Central...if only I could give a narrative.

My head hurts.

 

[seagrovegirl]

Day Two at Beach Citation Central...if only I could give a narrative.

My head hurts.

I definitely want to hear!!!!! PM me call me or something!!!

Sorry that head hurts...............

 

[Jim Tucker]

http://www.waltonsun.com/news/water_1949___article.html/family_victim.html

At approximately 12:15 p.m. on Monday, a man died after wading in the surf near Eastern Lake Road in Seagrove Beach.
Deputy Chief Sean Hughes of the South Walton Fire District said the man "happened to be right at the water's edge and had a cardiac-related issue." Hughes said the death was not related to water conditions, though double red flags were flying.
According to witnesses, the victim, who appeared to be in his 70s or 80s, collapsed in the water shortly after getting in. His cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Vacationer Ben Kramer said family members of the victim watched from the balcony as a crowd formed and rescuers arrived - they were unaware he was in the water at the time.
"His daughter had already taken him up (from the beach)," she said. "It was strange that he came back down."
Kramer said she grabbed his hat and glasses and searched for his family while two nurses on the beach tended to the victim with CPR.
Nicky Morris, whose family was on vacation from Tennessee, was one of the nurses who happened to be at the scene.
"We were just sitting out and a young guy ran up to see if anyone knew where a lifeguard was," she said. "I helped start CPR on him and my husband ran down (and helped)."
Glen Morris said the man had a scar on his chest that appeared to be from open-heart surgery. He believes the man might have gotten caught in a rip current and then had a heart attack after struggling.
"He had no pulse when he came out of the water," he said. "He was already blue. A family member said he was an excellent swimmer and had been coming to the ocean for most of his life. (For them) it was a big surprise."

 

[luvthebeach57]

Man Rescued from Rip Current in Watersound

Around noon today, a man was rescued from a rip current in Watersound about 50 yards from where we were sitting. About 6 people were involved in rescuing him. It took about 5 minutes to get him out of the water. He did not need resuscitation, but was not able to get out of the water on his own. He had to lay down at the edge of the water for about 15 minutes. The beach patrol showed up about 15 minutes after he was taken out of the water. There was a red flag flying at the time.

When we arrived at the beach in the morning, I immediately noticed a break in the sandbar, so knew that there was probably a rip current in that spot. Plus, I recognized the characteristic sand cusps and points on the beach. The rip current was located in the cusp area of the beach. Unfortunately, many people don't know what to look for. After this happened, several other people went in the water in the same location. Wouldn't it be wise for the beach patrol to mark this area as a possible rip current?

Thankfully, a drowning was avoided today.

 

[Judi]

http://www.waltonsun.com/news/water_1949___article.html/family_victim.html

At approximately 12:15 p.m. on Monday, a man died after wading in the surf near Eastern Lake Road in Seagrove Beach.
Deputy Chief Sean Hughes of the South Walton Fire District said the man "happened to be right at the water's edge and had a cardiac-related issue." Hughes said the death was not related to water conditions, though double red flags were flying.
According to witnesses, the victim, who appeared to be in his 70s or 80s, collapsed in the water shortly after getting in. His cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Vacationer Ben Kramer said family members of the victim watched from the balcony as a crowd formed and rescuers arrived - they were unaware he was in the water at the time.
"His daughter had already taken him up (from the beach)," she said. "It was strange that he came back down."
Kramer said she grabbed his hat and glasses and searched for his family while two nurses on the beach tended to the victim with CPR.
Nicky Morris, whose family was on vacation from Tennessee, was one of the nurses who happened to be at the scene.
"We were just sitting out and a young guy ran up to see if anyone knew where a lifeguard was," she said. "I helped start CPR on him and my husband ran down (and helped)."
Glen Morris said the man had a scar on his chest that appeared to be from open-heart surgery. He believes the man might have gotten caught in a rip current and then had a heart attack after struggling.
"He had no pulse when he came out of the water," he said. "He was already blue. A family member said he was an excellent swimmer and had been coming to the ocean for most of his life. (For them) it was a big surprise."

That is such a sad story. You are absolutely right about the unnecessary risks the life guards are subjected to and I agree there should be a fine for those who ignore the warnings. I hope your efforts in contacting the authorities is successful.

 

[ozbeachmom]

While being at the beach for the month of June and July, I made many observations. I will just share a few:
1. People with no regard to the flag system. Small children playing in the gulf when it was the roughest I have seen in years. Adults laying up on the beach paying no attention.
2. People leaving their stuff on the beach over night without any tags being placed on the items from the patrol. Storms coming in and blowing the stuff everywhere.
3. People leaving their trash everywhere, when the trash container was right past were they walked to leave.
4. People with no regard for cross walks, and dragging their kids across telling them to hurry. What does that teach a child? Don't use the cross walk, just run out in the street and people will stop, MAYBE!
5. people digging holes, my 7 year old went over and told them that they shouldn't do that because the turtles didn't like it and how he wants the turtles to have a place to lay their eggs. The people just said oh, turtles can get out of our holes. My son walked away and shook his head at them. I went over and told them to please make sure they covered the wholes that my seven year old has been educated on how to be respectful of the beaches and was just sharing what he has been taught. The guy was a jerk and just said we are just digging holes. I also shared that people could really get hurt if they are walking and turn a ankle.

I am sad to see what is happening to our beaches. I for one suggest that we continue to educate people when we see them doing stupid things, digging holes, leaving their crap up, and swimming on double red flag days. I could have sat there and not said anything to these people, but when my seven year old goes over to try to talk to some one and educate them and they blow him off, I was mad.

Okay, I am done ranting.......... it just makes me sad sOme of the things I saw on this last trip.

 

[Matt J]

I'm really to the point of looking forward to complaining about slow moving buicks and price checks on 10 cent items at Publix. :roll:

 

[ckhagen]

I'm really to the point of looking forward to complaining about slow moving buicks and price checks on 10 cent items at Publix. :roll:

I've been thinking the same thing. Usually, I absolutely crave the summer, but this year I can hardly wait for it to be over...