COCOA BEACH, Fla. – A day after two tourists drowned in waters off Cocoa Beach, officials are continuing to warn of dangerous rip currents along Florida’s east coast.
Cocoa Beach Fire Rescue said the incident happened around 1 p.m. Tuesday near Fourth Street South. A 42-year-old man from Connecticut and a 34-year-old woman visiting from Ohio were caught in a rip current and drowned.
Beachgoers say they’ve noticed an increase in emergency activity along the shoreline in recent days.
“We have seen the lifeguards with sirens on in a big hurry, heading up and down the beach a few times lately,” one local said. “And that’s never good.”
Residents who live along the coast say rip currents can form quickly and may not always be obvious to swimmers.
Katie Connolly, who overlooks the ocean from her seventh-floor condo, said she has watched the conditions develop firsthand.
“You can see the waves breaking on the left or the right, but not in a certain area,” Connolly said. “That’s where you see the water get foamy and start to head out.”
Officials stress that both tourists and locals should understand how to respond if caught in a rip current.
Experts say swimmers should not try to fight the current, which pulls away from shore. Instead, they recommend swimming parallel to the shoreline until escaping the current’s pull.
They also advise against attempting a rescue without proper equipment.
Some beachgoers say they have witnessed close calls in the past.
Rose Bovier recalled seeing a child struggle in a rip current about a year ago.
The young kid couldn’t get back in against the waves,” Bovier said. “Thankfully, someone called a lifeguard and they came running down.”
Officials say rip current risks remain high, especially for visitors unfamiliar with ocean conditions.
Beach officials are urging swimmers to stay near lifeguard posts and use caution when entering the water.