Rough surf conditions over the weekend claimed the life of one man in Navarre and led the U.S. Coast Guard to initiate a search for a second missing person in the waters near Fort Morgan in Alabama, before ultimately calling off those efforts Monday afternoon.
Michael Robidoux of Navarre died after attempting to rescue two children caught in rough surf along Navarre Beach late Saturday, said Danny Fureigh, chief of the Navarre Beach Fire Rescue Department.
"There were multiple people caught in rip currents. I think it was a situation where anyone would have stepped up to try and save a child. Unfortunately, a man lost his life," said Fureigh, who did not know Robidoux's age.
In a separate incident, the Coast Guard said Monday afternoon that it was officially suspending its search for a 16-year-old boy who went missing while swimming off Fort Morgan in Alabama on Sunday afternoon.
The teenager was swept under by a rip current while in view of people on Fort Morgan Beach, the Coast Guard said.
Petty Officer Brandon Giles, a Coast Guard spokesman, said searchers had scoured the area using small boats and aircraft try to find the boy.
"We are suspending the search from the Coast Guard side pending further developments," he said Monday afternoon.
Robidoux, the man who died on Navarre Beach, was unconscious when he was removed from the water and was transported to a Fort Walton Beach hospital, Fureigh said.
Fureigh said a surfer, other bystanders and firefighters also worked on the rescue. Six people were in distress in rough surf when firefighters responded, he said.
Navarre Beach lifeguards had left their posts for the day when the incident happened around 6:15 p.m., he said.
"We are working with the county to look at extending lifeguard times on the beach because of this, but there is a big cost associated with that," said Fureigh, who encouraged all beach visitors to pay close attention to the beach warning flag system.
"It is the responsibility of everyone who goes out there to learn those flags and understand what they mean," he said.
Saturday's drowning happened during yellow flag conditions, which indicate moderate surf. Green flags indicate calm conditions and red flag indicate rough conditions that should keep swimmers out of the water.
Dave Greenwood, Pensacola Beach's chief public safety officer, said yellow flag conditions usually indicate the busiest days for his lifeguards because people often feel safe to enter the rough water, even if they are not strong swimmers.
"The Gulf of Mexico is not a swimming pool. Getting into the Gulf is challenging because there are rip currents and the depth varies. It isn't like a pool where you have a ledge to hold," said Greenwood, whose lifeguards assisted four swimmers in distress on Saturday.
Greenwood encouraged beach visitors to pay attention to their surroundings and to note nearby landmarks in case rescuers need to reach them.
Many people drown while trying to help others who are in distress, he said.
"Your emotional reaction is to go in, but you have to realize what your abilities are and whether or not you will help the situation. It is incredibly hard to think unemotionally when someone is yelling for help," said Greenwood, who urged people to call 911 and report any swimmer who is in distress.
