Pennsylvania couple drowns in rip current while on vacation with their kids in Florida

MARTIN COUNTY, Fl- A Pennsylvania couple died on Thursday after they got caught in rip currents off a Florida beach.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office in Florida identified the couple as Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishart, 48.

Warter and Wishart were vacationing on Hutchinson Island with their six teenage children when they got caught in a rip current with two of their kids.

Here are the details from the Martin County Sheriff:

Despite efforts by family members, Martin County Ocean Rescue, MCFR Paramedics, and doctors at Cleveland Clinic North, a Pennsylvania couple caught in a rip current while swimming on Hutchinson Island this afternoon could not be saved.

The man and woman, identified as 51-year-old Brian Warter and 48-year-old Erica Wishard, along with their six mostly teenage children, started their Florida vacation day on the beach. While in the water, the couple and two of the teens got swept out by a rip current. The kids were able to break the current and attempted to help their parents, but it became too dangerous and they were forced to swim ashore.

Martin County Ocean Rescue located the victims and began CPR on shore. Those life-saving efforts continued in the ambulance and at the hospital where doctors gave it every last effort before declaring the couple deceased.

A Martin County Sheriff’s Crisis Intervention Team Deputy assisted the couple’s children throughout the day and evening as they await the arrival of other family members into Florida.