7 Die In Less Than A Week Swimming Off Florida Beaches

Credit: Martin County Sheriff’s Office 

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Florida – Seven people died from swimming at Florida beaches within just the last week.

On Thursday, June, 20, 2024, two parents died after swimming with their children in Martin County on Florida's east coast and another man died off Panama City Beach.

On Friday, June, 21, 2024, three young men from Alabama died after encountering distress while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico in Bay County near Panama City Beach, Florida. 

On Sunday, June 23, 2024, another young man died swimming off of Panama City Beach and, in a separate incident, a 60-year-old woman from Missouri died after swimming off of Panama City Beach. 

Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties, and piers. 

Remember to swim near a life guard and do not swim alone. Ask the beach patrol about ocean hazards when you arrive at the beach.

If you become caught in a rip current – do not panic – but yell for help.  Remain calm and do not exhaust yourself. Stay afloat while waiting for help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, begin to swim parallel to shore.  

Once you are away from the force of the rip current, begin to swim back to the beach. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current. Even a strong swimmer can become exhausted quickly.