A couple from Pennsylvania sadly lost their lives during a family vacation in Florida, where they were caught in a rip current while swimming with their six kids.
Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishart, 48, were enjoying the water on Hutchinson Island on June 20 with two of their teenage children when things took a dangerous turn.
While the teens managed to survive, their parents could not break free from the strong ocean waves.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office shared details about the tragic event. They reported that the teenagers tried bravely to rescue their parents but couldn’t fight against the fierce current. Emergency services arrived quickly, and rescue operations began. Sadly, despite being taken to a nearby hospital, both Brian and Erica were declared dead by the medical team.
Phillyburbs.com reported that the water conditions were extremely dangerous that Tuesday afternoon, with red flags posted at the beach to warn swimmers about the risky riptide situation, as stated by Cory Pippen from Martin County Fire Rescue. These flags serve to inform beachgoers about possible dangers in the water, like powerful rip currents.
Larry Warter, Brian’s dad, told CBS 12 News that his son and Erica had been together for more than a year and were engaged. Erica had four kids, while Brian had two. They intended to wait until all their children graduated from college before getting married. Their trip to Stuart, Florida, was a big step for them.
“They were so excited, they could hardly think straight about going down,” Larry Warter remembered. “This was their first time. It was a trial run. They had all six kids together. They had been planning it for over a month.”
Brian Warter’s parents expressed their strong love for the couple. Larry Warter remarked, “It was clear to anyone who spent time with them,” as he reflected on the bond between Brian and Erica. Susie Warter, Brian’s mother, mentioned that everyone who knew the couple adored them, and there was a lot of excitement about their future together.
The Warter family has been showered with support from their community. “We’ve been amazed by all the offers of help and support. We thought we were facing this alone, but we really aren’t,” Larry Warter said.
On a fundraising page, Wayne Sallurday shared a heartfelt tribute to Erica. “Erica was truly an incredible person. She was a devoted mother to two sons and two daughters, with her youngest son being adopted when he was little,” the post stated.
“Erica worked at an elementary school, teaching special needs kids, and later she was in the school library. She dedicated a lot of her time to helping out at her local church. We could keep going, but you get the idea. She was one of the kindest people you could ever meet.”
The GoFundMe page created in their honor has raised over $60,000, showing how generous the community has been in response to this tragedy.
The National Weather Service provides essential information about rip currents on its website. It points out that rip currents don’t actually drag swimmers under the water, but they can tire them out really fast. Staying calm is super important.
“Swimming against a rip current will just drain your energy, which you need to survive and get away from it. Don’t try to swim straight back to the shore. Instead, swim parallel to the beach until you’re out of the current’s grip. Once you’re free from the current, swim at an angle towards the shore,” the website suggests. They also advise against swimming alone and remind everyone of the saying, “If in doubt, don’t go out!”
This tragic event highlights the serious risks of rip currents and the need to pay attention to safety tips when swimming.
