During their first family vacation in Florida, six-time parents Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishart, 48, faced an unthinkable tragedy. On June 20, while swimming off Hutchinson Island with two of their children, Brian and Erica were overcome by strong ocean currents, though their children managed to save themselves.
Rescue efforts began immediately upon the arrival of emergency personnel. However, despite their best efforts, Brian and Erica were declared dead at a local hospital.
The day they perished, water conditions were extremely hazardous. According to Cory Pippen of Martin County Fire Rescue, red flags were posted along the beach to warn swimmers of dangerous riptide conditions. These flags are meant to alert beachgoers to potential aquatic dangers, such as strong rip currents.
Brian and Erica had been engaged for over a year and planned to marry after their children graduated from college. They had eagerly anticipated this much-needed vacation, carefully planning it for over a month, and brought all six of their children.
Brian’s father, Larry Warter, expressed their excitement, saying, “They were so thrilled, they couldn’t see straight about going down. It had never happened before. All six of their children were born together. It had taken them more than a month to plan.”
The overwhelming support from friends, relatives, and the community deeply moved Brian’s family. Larry Warter expressed his gratitude, stating, “Offers of assistance and other things have poured in. We didn’t realize that we weren’t experiencing this alone.”
A GoFundMe page was created in the couple’s memory, where Wayne Sallurday penned a heartfelt tribute to Erica. He described her as an extraordinary person, a devoted teacher, a loving mother, and a volunteer at her local church. He emphasized that Erica was one of the kindest people he had ever met.
The National Weather Service provides crucial information about rip currents, noting that while they do not pull swimmers underwater, they can quickly exhaust them. Staying calm in such situations is essential.
The website advises against swimming directly against a rip current, as this will deplete your energy needed for survival and escape. Instead, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current’s pull, then swim at an angle away from the current and toward the shore. Additionally, the service urges swimmers
