MIRAMAR BEACH — A 45-year-old man was pulled from the water Wednesday morning after getting caught in a rip current near Surf-side Condominiums.
The man, whose name has not been released, was unconscious when beach goers pulled him from the surf. According to the South Walton Fire District’s press release, the man entered the water in an unguarded area when he got caught in the powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore.
After attempting to swim away from the current, the man was taken under water. Nearby beach vendors retrieved the man and brought him to shore.
South Walton first responders performed CPR and resuscitated the man. He was taken to an area hospital where he is listed in critical, but stable condition.
At the time of the incident, red flags indicating high hazard were being flown. Currently, the beach is flying double red flags, which closes the beach waters to the public.
Flag Warning System:
Double Red Flag: Water is closed to public (dangerous water conditions)
Red Flag: High Hazard (high surf and/or strong currents)
Yellow Flag: Medium Hazard (moderate surf and/or currents)
Green Flag: Low Hazard (calm conditions, exercise caution)
Purple Flag: Marine Pests Present (jellyfish, stingrays, dangerous fish)
How To Identify A Rip Current
One or more of the following features indicate the presence of a rip current:
Darker color surf, indicating deeper water
Murky brown water caused by sand stirred up on the bottom
Smaller unorganized waves, alongside more evenly breaking waves over a sand bar
Waves breaking further out to sea on both sides of the rip current
What To Do If You See Someone Else Caught In A Rip Current:
Notify a lifeguard
Have someone call 911, give accurate landmarks
Do not enter the water, you too will be caught in the current
Throw them a flotation device
Try not to lose sight of the victim
What To Do If You’re Caught In A Rip Current:
Don’t panic or swim against the current
Relax, float with the current until it dissipates
Swim parallel to shore and back in
Of course the best way to avoid a rip current is to know the surf conditions before entering the water.