The Navarre Beach Fire Department and Navarre Beach lifeguards helped rescue 10 tourists over the weekend after they became stranded in the Gulf of Mexico due to strong rip currents.
The two groups of five people were pulled from the Gulf of Mexico Sunday at around 4 p.m. according to Navarre Beach Fire Department Captain Danny Fureigh.
The two packs of swimmers were pulled from the Gulf on the west part of Navarre Beach, roughly a quarter of a mile away from each other.
“They were younger people. All of them were in their 20s,” Fureigh said. “The two groups were stuck in rip currents and they couldn’t get back in (to shore).”
According to Fureigh, a guest staying at a Navarre Beach condominium alerted lifeguards to the stranded swimmers.
“They were in an unprotected area, but lifeguards did respond on their ATV’s. They were about to get off duty, but responded anyways,” Fureigh said.
All of the swimmers were noted as being from out of town and were swimming while red and purple flags were flying on the beach, according to the fire chief.
The fire department and the lifeguards did not have to utilize any vessels, according to Fureigh.
Fureigh said that after they were pulled to shore, all 10 refused medical treatment.
There were no injuries reported.
10 tourists pulled from Gulf of Mexico
Posted on May 25, 2017 by Mat Pellegrino