Dad dies trying to save his daughter from rip current off Florida beach, officials say

A Georgia man died trying to save his daughter from a deadly rip current off Fernandina Beach, Florida.

It happened around 11:50 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, and the man’s cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest, the Fernandina Beach Fire Department said in a news release. The beach is about 35 miles north of Jacksonville.

The man’s daughter survived, officials said.

“The female victim had been in the water along for approximately 10 minutes when she was caught in the rip current,” the fire department reported.

“Her father entered the water to assist her and was subsequently caught in the rip current himself.”

Emergency responders arrived to find the current had pulled both 200 yards from shore, and they were separated by 300 yards.

Rescue swimmers were sent in both directions and reached the pair before they vanished, officials said.

However, they “found the male in cardiac arrest and needing resuscitation.”

“Fire department personnel on the beach were notified of the victim’s condition, and units prepared for resuscitation efforts,” the fire department said.

“The patient was transported to Baptist Medical Center Nassau, where he was pronounced deceased.”

His daughter was evaluated on the beach by paramedics, but her condition was not released.

Authorities did not release the identities of the father or daughter. The family was visiting from Kingsland, Georgia, which is about 25 miles northwest of Fernandina Beach.

Red flags were posted on beaches at the time, noting the elevated risk from rip currents, fire department officials said.

The rough surf is due subtropical storm Nicole, which is expected to reach Florida’s east coast Wednesday, Nov. 9.

Rip currents were also blamed for sending three children to a Florida hospital Sunday Nov. 6, in Martin County, also on Florida’s east coast. The three were caught in the current off Jensen Beach, Martin County Fire Rescue reported in a Facebook post.

“One was able to get out on their own and the other two were rescued by fire rescue and a bystander,” officials said. “All three were transported to the local hospital.”

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