A Pennsylvania couple tragically lost their lives while vacationing in Florida with their six children after being caught in a dangerous rip current. Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishart, 48, were swimming with two of their teenage children on Hutchinson Island on June 20 when the situation took a deadly turn. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office released details of the tragic incident, explaining that the teenagers made heroic efforts to save their parents but were ultimately unable to overcome the strong current.
Emergency services responded quickly, and both Brian and Erica were rushed to a nearby hospital. Sadly, despite the rescue efforts, the couple was pronounced dead by hospital staff. The day of the tragedy, the water conditions were reported to be especially treacherous. According to Phillyburbs.com, red flags were flying at the beach to warn swimmers of the hazardous rip currents. Martin County Fire Rescue representative Cory Pippen confirmed that the flags were in place to alert beachgoers of the dangerous conditions.
Brian’s father, Larry Warter, shared with CBS 12 News that Brian and Erica had been in a relationship for over a year and were engaged to be married. Erica was a mother of four children, while Brian had two. The couple had decided to wait until their children finished college before getting married. Their trip to Stuart, Florida, was a major event for the family, marking their first vacation together as a blended family. Larry Warter fondly recalled the excitement Brian and Erica felt about the trip. “They were so thrilled, they couldn’t see straight about going down,” he said. “This was the first time. This was the experiment. They had all six of their kids together. They had been planning it for over a month.” Brian’s parents also expressed their deep affection for the couple, emphasizing the love shared between them. “It was obvious if you were around them,” Larry reflected, while Brian’s mother, Susie Warter, added that the couple was well-loved by everyone who knew them, and there was much anticipation for their future together.
The Warter family has been deeply moved by the support they’ve received from their community in the wake of the tragedy. “We’ve been overwhelmed by offers of help and everything else. We thought we were going through this alone, but it hasn’t been,” Larry shared.On a fundraising page, Wayne Sallurday paid tribute to Erica, describing her as “simply an amazing person.” He noted that Erica was a loving mother to her four children, including a son she adopted at a young age. Erica worked at an elementary school teaching special needs children and later in the school library. She was also actively involved in her local church. “She was one of the nicest human beings you could ever meet,” the tribute read. A GoFundMe page created in memory of Brian and Erica has raised over $60,000, a testament to the community’s generosity and support during this difficult time. The National Weather Service provides critical advice regarding rip currents on its website. It emphasizes that while rip currents do not pull swimmers underwater, they can quickly tire swimmers, making escape difficult. The key to survival is to remain calm. “Trying to swim against a rip current will only use up your energy; energy you need to survive and escape the rip current. Do NOT try to swim directly into the shore. Swim along the shoreline until you escape the current’s pull. When free from the pull of the current, swim at an angle away from the current toward shore,” the service advises. It also recommends never swimming alone and following the rule, “If in doubt, don’t go out.”This heartbreaking incident highlights the dangers posed by rip currents and the importance of following safety warnings when swimming.
