dozens of Brevard County stands sit empty, as the county scrambles to fill 45 critical roles
Man, Woman Killed in Rip Current as Brevard Lifeguard Shortage Leaves Beach Danger Zones: Brevard County Ocean Rescue Chief Eisen Witcher said the nearest lifeguard was 3/4 of a mile away when the emergency unfolded. (Fox News video image)
Brevard County Ocean Rescue Chief Eisen Witcher: The nearest lifeguard was 3/4 of a mile away when the emergency unfolded
FOX NEWS – For decades, the lifeguard stands of Florida’s Space Coast have served as symbols of a vacationer’s safety.
But this season, dozens of Brevard County stands sit empty, as the county scrambles to fill 45 critical roles — a shortage that turned tragic last week when two people drowned while attempting to rescue a child caught in a rip current.
“Obviously, we’re doing the best we can with what we have,” Brevard County Ocean Rescue Chief Eisen Witcher said.
“And we assess as much risk as we possibly can…It’s not that we’re not there, it’s just we can’t be there all the time.”
On Wednesday, Brevard County authorities were called to a water emergency involving four victims at the popular beach in Cocoa Beach.
Two of the people affected, a 42-year-old man from Connecticut and a 34-year-old woman from Ohio, were transported to the hospital but died.
