Rip Current — Brevard, Florida

2017-01-15 · Brevard, Florida

Event narrative

A 52-year old woman from the State of Georgia was found floating face-down in the surf around 1500LST on January 15. She was transported to a local hospital by paramedics, was pronounced brain dead and died on January 18. Ocean Rescue reported rip currents in the area and two friends that the woman was swimming with reported that they became caught in a rip current. This rip current fatality becomes the first within east-central Florida during the month of January since records began in 1987.

Wider weather episode

A female tourist was found floating face-down in the surf at Melbourne Beach after entering the ocean to swim. She was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced brain dead, and died several days later. Strong rip currents were present on the day of the incident and two friends who were in the surf with her reported that they became caught in a rip current.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 668998. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.