Woman becomes 13th swimmer to die along Florida Panhandle this year, data shows
Another swimmer has died along the Florida Panhandle, bringing the 2023 death toll to 13, according to the National Weather Service.
The latest fatality occurred Monday, July 24, in Bay County, where strong currents swept in and left deputies scrambling to get people out of the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
“A woman was pulled from the water onto the sand behind Rick Seltzer Park, was taken to a local hospital, and was pronounced deceased,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a Facebook post.
The identity of the woman was not released. Her death was “attributed to water conditions.”
As many as 32 people were rescued Monday in Bay County, WMBB reported.
At least seven of the previous 12 deaths occurred in Bay County, data shows. All 12 are attributed to rip currents, which occur when water is “trapped between the beach and a sandbar or other underwater feature,” according to the National Weather Service.
“The water converges into a narrow, river-like channel moving away from the shore at high speed,” the NWS says.
Bay County‘s barrier islands are a popular tourist attraction along the Gulf Coast, with Panama City Beach attracting “approximately 4.5 million visitors” annually, the city reports.
County law calls for a $500 fine if swimmers enter the water when double red flags are posted along beaches.
“Even though the surface of the water appears calm, rip currents can be present and deadly,” the sheriff’s office said.
“Not only do swimmers place themselves in danger but also first responders that enter the water to save them, and well-meaning citizens who try to rescue distressed swimmers and become overwhelmed themselves.”
A second water-related fatality was reported Monday in the county near Shell Island, but investigators believe the 26-year-old man suffered a medical emergency while diving from a boat. He died after being taken to a hospital, officials said.
More about rip currents
Rip currents are “powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water” that happen on the coasts of the U.S. and in the Great Lakes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
About 100 people are killed by rip currents each year in the U.S., NOAA reported. Lifeguards rescue thousands of people from rip currents annually.
Experts say people can take steps to stay safe from rip currents, including:
Check the local water conditions before getting in.
Talk to a lifeguard at the beach about the conditions.
Only swim at beaches where lifeguards are present.
Don’t assume great weather means good swimming conditions.
This story was originally published July 25, 2023 at 12:14 PM with the headline "Woman becomes 13th swimmer to die along Florida Panhandle this year, data shows."