A Pennsylvania couple reportedly died while vacationing with their six children in Florida after being caught in a rip current. Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishart, 48, were swimming with two of their teenage children on Hutchinson Island on June 20 when the water became treacherous. The teenagers survived, but sadly, their parents succumbed to the rough ocean waters.
According to a news release from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, the teenagers attempted to help their parents but were unable to free them from the current. Emergency crews were dispatched to the area and rescue efforts began. The couple was taken to an area hospital, where medical staff pronounced them deceased.
Red flags apparently flew at the beach the day the couple died.
Phillyburbs.com reported that conditions in the water were knowingly dangerous on Tuesday afternoon, and red flags were flying at the beach, per Martin County Fire Rescue representative Cory Pippen. When the flags are flying, they are to warn swimmers of possible riptide conditions.
The couple were reportedly excited to be on their first big vacation together.
Larry Warter, Brian’s father, told CBS 12 News that his son and Wishart had been dating for more than a year and were engaged to be married. Wishart was a mom of four, and Warter was a dad of two. The couple was planning to wait until all of their kids were finished with college to get married. Their vacation to Stuart, Florida, was a big deal to them.
“They were so thrilled, they couldn’t see straight about going down,” Larry Warter said. “This was the first time. This was the experiment. They had all six of their kids together. They had been planning it for over a month.”
They seemed to have a real love story.
Brian Warter’s parents told CBS 12 News that their son and future daughter-in-law seemed very much in love. As Larry Warter said, “it was obvious if you were around them.”
Susie Warter, Brian’s mother, added that everyone loved the couple and was so excited for their future.
The grieving parents said they are feeling the love of their community. “We’ve been overwhelmed by offers of help and everything else. We thought we were going through this alone and it hasn’t been,” Larry Warter shared.
Friends created a GoFundMe account for the surviving children.
Wayne Sallurday shared a kind message about Wishart on the fundraising page.
“Erica was simply an amazing person. She was a loving mother of two sons and two daughters; with her youngest son being adopted at a young age,” the post reads. “Erica worked at an elementary school teaching special needs children, and later worked in her school library. She spent a significant amount of time helping at her local church. We could go on and on, but we think you get the picture by now. She was one of nicest human beings you could ever meet.”
The GoFundMe page has surpassed its original $50,000 goal.
Experts say staying calm is the best way to survive a rip current.
The National Weather Service explains on its website that rip currents will not pull a swimmer down but can tire out a person quickly. It notes the most crucial thing a swimmer can do is to stay calm.
“Trying to swim against a rip current will only use up your energy; energy you need to survive and escape the rip current. Do NOT try to swim directly into [the]shore. Swim along the shoreline until you escape the current’s pull. When free from the pull of the current, swim at an angle away from the current toward shore,” the website explains.
The weather service also advises never to swim alone and always remember, “If in doubt, don’t go out!”