VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – An 86-year-old Longwood man died Thursday after being caught in a rip current in an unguarded area of Daytona Beach Shores, according to Volusia County Beach Safety.
The man was one of two individuals who were pulled away from the shore by a rip current just after 12 p.m. near the 3500 block of Daytona Beach Shores, Beach Safety Director Tammy Malphurs said in a statement.
Lifeguards responded and brought the two people back to shore, the statement reads.
Despite life-saving efforts, the Longwood man was unresponsive and was later pronounced dead at the hospital, Malphurs said.
No details were released about the condition of the other person.
[RELATED: How to spot and escape a rip current]
Rip currents are narrow streams of water moving away from and often perpendicular to the shoreline.
How to spot a rip current:
It is easier to spot a rip current if you are up high.
- Look for a narrow gap of darker, calmer water between breaking waves or whitewater.
- A channel of churning, choppy water.
- A line of foam, seaweed or debris moving out to sea.
How to escape:
It is important to note that rip currents do not drag you under water, they pull you away from the beach.
If you find yourself caught in a rip current, the most important thing to do is not panic as this can quickly lead to exhaustion.
- Do not swim against the current (i.e. straight back to the beach).
- Because these swiftly-moving channels of water are mostly narrow, about 10-20 feet, you can swim out of them by swimming parallel to the beach in either direction.
- If you find yourself unable to escape the rip current, calmly tread water. Rip currents tend to weaken offshore. Once you are in a weak point, swim back to shore.
- If you feel like you are unable to escape the rip current, face the beach and get the attention of a lifeguard or people on the beach by waving your arms and yelling.
It is important to know the beach conditions prior to going to the beach and it is always important to check with a lifeguard and obey any warnings given at the beach.
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