3 ‘Distressed Swimmers’ Die in Hospital After 2-Hour Rescue in Panama City Beach: ‘Such a Tragedy’
The identities of the young men, who were visiting Florida from Alabama, have not yet been revealed
Taken this picture in morning over the Gulf of Mexico from Panama City Beach.
The Gulf of Mexico at Panama City Beach. Photo: Getty
Three men have died while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.
The swimmers — who were visiting Panama City Beach, Florida, from Alabama — became “distressed” in the water on the evening of Friday, June 21, according to a news release from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office received a call around 8:11 p.m. local time reporting three swimmers in the Gulf behind Watercress Condominiums, a local condo building. One swimmer was located quickly and received medical care, while rescue efforts to save the other two continued.
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In an update to its original post, which was provided without a timestamp, the sheriff’s office said another swimmer had been located, pulled from the water and administered medical care.
In another update — also without a timestamp — authorities said the third distressed swimmer had been located, and revealed that one of the others had died. The update also said that the “young men” had arrived in Panama City Beach from Alabama on Friday afternoon and “soon after went swimming.”
In a final update, the sheriff’s office announced that all three swimmers died at local hospitals.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce all three young men that entered the water around 8 p.m. today and became distressed have passed away,” Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with their families.”
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