3 young people drowned in the Gulf of Mexico in Bay County, Florida

Three Alabama youths drowned in the Gulf of Mexico in Bay County sheriff’s office announced.

According to an agency Facebook post, the men, whose ages and hometowns have not yet been listed, arrived in Bay County on Friday night and went swimming.

The sheriff’s office said it received a call at 8:11 p.m. Friday about three swimmers in distress behind the Watercress Condominiums, 6201 Thomas Drive. The agency, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, Bay County Emergency Services and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, began rescue efforts.

Related news: 3 drownings in Panama City Beach bring Florida’s total to 5 this week. How to Survive Rip Currents

The bay and surrounding counties are under a rip current warning this week. Single red flags were raised on Friday, meaning high risk: strong waves and/or strong currents.

The swimmers were found one by one and received medical attention.

An additional statement from Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford

The sheriff posted this message on Facebook around 9:30 a.m. Saturday:

“I have a very heavy heart this morning over the loss of three young visitors to our community. I am praying for your family and I ask that you do the same.

“I witnessed so many people, including visitors to our community, gather at the beach last night to desperately search for them. The acts of courage by the first responders were incredible. Many of our rescue swimmers from the Sheriff’s Office, County Emergency Services de Bay and Panama City Beach waded into dark, dangerous waters for more than two hours to try to rescue and search for the youths.

“I worry about the emotional impact these situations have on first responders, because I know I’m struggling with it too. They have my utmost respect as I know they are suiting up again today to keep our citizens and visitors safe.”

-Jim Ross

Another rip current warning

Shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service issued an advisory saying dangerous rip currents are expected until 4 a.m. Monday at Bay, Walton, Gulf and Franklin County beaches.

“Rip currents can carry even the best swimmers from shore into deeper water,” the statement says. “Bathers should pay attention to the color of the beach flags. Reminder: Double red means the water is closed to the public, but the beach remains open.”

Bay County is under single red flags today, which means high risk: high waves and/or strong currents.

Click here for the latest weather warnings.

-Jim Ross

Public beach access #12

The search and rescue operation on Friday night began at sunset on Friday and lasted until evening. Conditions were relatively calm Saturday morning.

-Tyler Orsburn

What is the best thing to do in a rip current?

By far the most important thing to do is stay calm and even try to relax. They can be scary, but rip currents will only pull you, not pull you under the water. The biggest danger is getting tired.

Don’t panic or worry. Don’t worry about trying to fight the current.

You may be able to get out of the current by swimming with it parallel to the shore (or just floating or treading water) until it disappears or circles back to shore, and then you can swim to shore.

You can also try swimming with the current towards the waves, where you can swim to shore.

If you can’t reach shore or are being pulled further out to sea, or are getting tired, get their attention by waving or shouting for help.

-Lianna Norman and CA Bridges

What is the difference between a rip current and a rip current?

Rip currents have also been called runouts, but they are not the same as rip tides or undertows, although the terms are often confused.

+ Rip currents: Strong offshore currents that run along the coast or back out to sea.

+ Return tides: A powerful tidal current that pulls water through an inlet and the mouths of estuaries, bays and harbors. Also known as tidal jets.

+ Undertow: When a wave breaks, a lot of water and sand are quickly pulled under the surface back into the next breaking wave. Unprepared swimmers or young children can easily fall into an undertow, but it only travels a short distance and only for a moment or so.

-Lianna Norman and CA Bridges

Reactions on social media to the three drownings

As of 7:15 a.m. Saturday, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook post about the drownings had generated 798 reactions and 266 comments. Many people expressed sympathy and offered prayers for the family and thanks for the first responders.

-Jim Ross

How many people die in rip currents?

Return currents are common hazards on Florida beaches. Tens of thousands of people are rescued from rip currents in the US every year and represent 81.9% of all surf beach rescues, according to a 2018 Report from Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences on lifesaving data.

The American Life Saving Association (USLA) estimated that more than 100 people drown every year in this country due to rip currents.

-Lianna Norman and CA Bridges

What happens in a rip current?

You’re swimming, enjoying the cool ocean water on a Florida beach, when suddenly you fall to the ground and feel like you’re in a raging underwater river. You try to swim to shore, but the current holds you back, pulling you further out to sea.

Eventually the current will dissipate, but not before dragging you away, no matter how strong a swimmer you are. Fortunately, they are not difficult to deal with if you keep a cool head.

-Lianna Norman and CA Bridges

Statement from Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford

Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford released this statement on Facebook on Friday: “It is with deep sadness that we announce that all three young men who entered the water around 8pm today and became distressed have passed away.

-Jim Ross

US Coast Guard warns people about rip currents

Details of what happened Friday are still emerging. But in a Facebook post, the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Panama City, which was among the agencies helping with the search and rescue, warned people about the rip currents.

“All first responder agencies ask residents and visitors to exercise caution in Gulf waters,” the statement said. “Rip currents come unexpectedly and can happen on even the nicest of days. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Be safe, everyone. Thank you for the well wishes and support. “Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone involved and their families.”

-Jim Ross

What are rip currents?

Rip currents are powerful, concentrated channels of water that flow quickly away from the coast, most often found in low points or crevices in the sandbar and near structures such as jetties and piers.

Rip currents form when incoming waves create an underwater sandbar. The waves push more water between the sandbar and the shore until it collapses and the water returns to the sea through a narrow crack, where it begins to spread. But they can be difficult to see when you’re in the water, as the ocean above them can still be smooth.

Earlier this year: A tourist drowns off the coast of Panama City Beach, the first drowning at a local beach in 2024

Rip currents often form during or after thunderstorms, but they can form on clear, sunny days just as easily since the weather isn’t actually what’s causing them. Rip currents can be found on any beach with waves, at any time.

-Lianna Norman and CA Bridges

This article originally appeared in the Ocala Star-Banner: Drownings in Florida: 3 swimmers die near Panama City Beach