Rip Current — Coastal Bay, Florida

2023-06-21 · Coastal Bay, Florida

Event narrative

A 53 year old male from South Carolina drowned in a rip current behind Pelican Walk Rentals, 6905 Thomas Drive. Double red flags were flying.

Wider weather episode

Persistent moderate onshore flow led to numerous rip currents for a multi-day period. The strongest rip current occurred between June 15-24 where unfortunately several fatalities occurred.

On June 21st, a 53 year old male from South Carolina drowned in a rip current behind Pelican Walk Rentals, 6905 Thomas Drive. Double red flags were flying.

On June 22nd, a 65 year old male from Coppell, TX drowned from a rip current. Beach patrons notified South Walton Fire District's Tower 31 lifeguard that bystanders had pulled the male, who was unresponsive, from the water nearly half a mile to the west of the tower. Single red flags were flying. In addition, a 47 year old male from Decatur, TN died trying to save his girlfriend from a rip current. The incident occurred about 2:20 p.m. CT near the Flamingo Hotel and Tower at 15525 Front Beach Road. Double red flags were posted at that time.

On June 24th, a 58 year old male from Nashville, TN drowned in a rip current just offshore of Scenic Gulf Drive in Walton county. Single red flags were flying. In addition, the Panama City Beach Police Department reported three separate fatal water incidents behind three different resorts on Front Beach Road. Officers arrived on scene at the first incident at 12:04 p.m. to find PCB Beach Safety lifeguards actively rescuing a female from the Gulf of Mexico behind Days Inn located at 12818 Front Beach Road. She was successfully brought to shore but was unresponsive and life-saving measures were started. She was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The victim was a 39 year old female from Lithonia, Georgia. Officers arrived on scene at a second incident to find PCB Beach Safety lifeguards actively rescuing a male from the Gulf of Mexico behind Boardwalk Beach Resort located at 9450 South Thomas Drive at 1:13 p.m. He was successfully brought to shore but was unresponsive and life-saving measures were started. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The victim was identified as a 63 year old male from Lithia Springs, Georgia. Officers arrived on scene at a third incident to find PCB Beach Safety lifeguards rescuing a male from the Gulf of Mexico behind Emerald Isle Condos located at 17545 Front Beach Road at 4:23 p.m. He was successfully brought to shore unresponsive. Life-saving measures were started. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The victim was identified as a 68 year old male, from Canton, Michigan. Single red flags were flying at the times of the first two incidents in Bay county with double red flags at the time of the third incident in Bay county.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1100046. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.