WARNING: Strong Rip Currents, Sharks Continue To Pose Danger To Beachgoers

SWIM NEAR LIFEGUARD STATIONS

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Spring breakers and other Florida Beachgoers had their vacation plans disrupted by both strong rip currents and migrating sharks along the Eastern Coast of Florida this week.

Lifeguards in Cocoa Beach closed the beach on several occasions due to shark sightings right off shore. Incidences of shark bites were reported in Melbourne Beach, Ormond Beach and St. Augustine Beach.

None of the injuries were life threatening. Increased shark sighting and encounters with swimmers are expected this time of year coinciding with annual shark migrations.

Strong rip currents were a factor also posing a danger to Beachgoers as the majority of the East Florida Coast was under strong or medium rip current warnings for most of the week.

A Martin County, Florida teen drowned last Saturday after being swept out to sea by a rip current. The rip currents incidence happened in sight of lifeguards who were unsuccessful in finding the swimmer.

The victim’s body was later recovered by Search & Rescue.

Wyatt Werneth of Brevard County, National Spokesperson for the American Lifeguard Association, said that when caught in a rip current, it is important not to panic and to signal for help. He said that to free yourself from a rip, you should swim out of the current and then swim into shore or more succinctly “Swim Out, Swim In.”

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