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| Rough surf continues off the beaches of east Central Florida on Memorial Day. |
UPDATE: A fourth possible drowning has occurred around 4:30 p.m. at Playalinda Beach off the Canaveral National Seashore. One victim is in critical condition who was transported by Brevard County Fire Rescue and another non-critical patient was transported by Kennedy Space Center Fire Rescue.
BREVARD COUNTY, Florida — Rough surf and rip currents combined with a heavy populated beaches has resulted in five rescues with three possible drownings off of Florida’s Space Coast on Memorial Day, according to Brevard County Fire Rescue.
The first possible drowning occurred around 12:30 p.m. off Melbourne Beach. The second and third drownings, which left one victim in minor distress and the other in critical condition, occurred near Hightower Beach Park in Satellite Beach around 2:30 p.m.
The National Weather Service in Melbourne has issued beach hazard warnings throughout the weekend and advises that weak swimmers will not want to enter the water above their knees. A person drowned off Ormond Beach, Florida on Sunday and beach patrols have made over 100 rescues off of east Central Florida beaches this Memorial Day weekend.
Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties and piers. Remember to swim near a life guard and do not swim alone. Ask the beach patrol about ocean hazards when you arrive at the beach.
If you become caught in a rip current – do not panic – but yell for help. Remain calm and do not exhaust yourself. Stay afloat while waiting for help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, begin to swim parallel to shore. Once you are away from the force of the rip current, begin to swim back to the beach. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current. Even a strong swimmer can become exhausted quickly.
