Swimmer Killed By Rip Current: 2 Others Rescued By Lifeguards Off Delray Beach
By Chrystian Tejedor, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Jun. 2–DELRAY BEACH — One swimmer died Friday after lifeguards pulled him and two other men from rip currents at the Public Beach off Atlantic Avenue, officials said.
Paramedics took one man, who was not identified, to Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach, where he later died, Delray Beach Fire-Rescue said.
The two other swimmers did not require more extensive treatment, Ocean Rescue officials said.
Because of the rainy afternoon Friday, the three swimmers were practically alone in the ocean except for the lifeguards who were on duty and surfers cruising the waves farther down the beach, officials said.
When lifeguards realized the swimmers were in trouble, they dove into the water for the rescue about 3:10 p.m.
It was at least the second time in two days where rip currents played a role in a death on Delray’s beaches.
Shawn Edele died Thursday after he was caught in a rip current while trying to help a friend and co-worker, according to a Delray Beach police report.
Fire-Rescue was called to the beach about 5:40 p.m. and ultimately found Edele, 31, of Macomb, Mich., face down in the water about 80 yards from the beach.
He was taken to Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach, where he later died.
According to the report, Edele swam toward his friend when the current became too strong. Waves pushed Edele’s friend closer to shore but he was pulled farther out into the ocean.
And earlier in the week, lifeguards pulled an unconscious man from the waters off The Breakers resort in Palm Beach.
Onorej Reiner, 55, address unknown, was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach on Wednesday, Palm Beach police said.
After having to perform a second rescue that day, resort officials decided to block their hotel guests from swimming in the ocean.
Officials are probing the cause of Reiner’s death. He was attending a conference at the resort, officials had said.
To avoid falling victim to rip currents, swimmers should either swim parallel to shore or float calmly on their backs until help arrives.
“The problem is that most people panic because they’re fighting the current,” said Bob Taylor, Delray Beach Ocean Rescue superintendent. “So you lose your strength.”
Taylor said his lifeguards pulled about 21 swimmers from the ocean during Memorial Day weekend, but no one died.
Chrystian Tejedor can be reached at ctejedor@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6645.
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