Erica Wishard and her fiancé, Brian Warter, tragically drowned during a family trip to Florida, leaving behind six children they were raising together. The blended family was enjoying their first vacation outside of Port St. Lucie when a rip current swept the parents away.
Authorities report that despite a child’s attempts to instruct parents on how to navigate the rip current, Wishard and Warter, overcome with panic, were swept away by the powerful current.
Larry Warter, Brian’s father, shared with Inside Edition the family’s excitement about the holidays. “This was the highlight of the year,” he said, reflecting on the tragic turn of events, he said. CBS 12 News.
Wishard had four children from a previous marriage, while Warter had two children. The couple was working to merge their families, and both sets of children developed strong bonds with each other. “They have had previous marriages and were starting a family and both sets of children love each other,” Larry explained.
This heartbreaking incident is part of a recent series of drownings along the East Coast, where eight swimmers, including two teenagers from Queens, New York, lost their lives in rip currents over the past week, exacerbated by a heat wave. suffocating that drove people into the water.
Swim safety expert Jim Spiers, president of Stop Drowning Now, offered crucial tips to Inside Edition on how to survive a rip current. “If you see a break in the waves and the color change in the water, and the water comes back, that’s a rip current, avoid that space,” he warned.
Spiers stressed the importance of not fighting the current if you get caught in one. “Float on your back and rest. Don’t wave both hands, that will only tire you out. Don’t yell at the beach because they won’t hear you anyway; it is too noisy“He advised. “Once you float past the drop point, swim parallel to the shore until you pass the wave, and then swim back and let the waves help you back to save energy.”
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of rip currents and the importance of water safety, especially during the peak holiday season.