Father and son swept into Gulf of Mexico by rip current. Body found, Florida cops say

A father and son visiting Florida over Labor Day weekend found themselves struggling in the Gulf of Mexico when a rip current pulled them from the beach, according to investigators in the Panhandle.

The 13-year-old boy was rescued by witnesses but the father vanished and later was found dead, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office says.

Identities of the two have not been released as of Wednesday, Sept. 4, but the family was visiting from Marbury, Alabama, officials told McClatchy News.

It happened Saturday, Aug. 31, as the two were swimming off James Lee Park in Destin, about a 50-mile drive east from Pensacola.

“The son began to swim back to the beach but when he turned around he could no longer see his father and he then began struggling,” the sheriff’s office said.

“The son was pulled from the water by a bystander. He appeared to have some water inhalation but was conscious and breathing and was expected to be okay.”

His 50-year-old father was found underwater, “about 30 feet from shore.”

Lifeguards and firefighters worked to revive him “for an extended period,” but the man was declared dead at a hospital, officials said.

His son was taken to a hospital in stable condition, officials said.

This story was originally published September 4, 2024 at 7:17 AM with the headline "Father and son swept into Gulf of Mexico by rip current. Body found, Florida cops say."