As many as seven people lost their lives in one and the same place at one of the more sought-after surfing beaches in the USA. It happened over a period of just nine days.
The area of Panama City Beach in Bay County in Florida has received a rather sinister stamp after the tragic deaths.
Surfing veteran died in tragic accident
Several international media have subsequently discussed the risks of surfing. Among them CBS.
Outgoing flows
The primary cause of the accidents is supposed to be so-called “outgoing currents”, according to the US national weather service.
STRONG CURRENTS: The outgoing currents can in the worst case be fatal. Photo: Bay County Sheriff’s Office / Screenshot Facebook Show more
These occur when surface currents move out from beaches due to accumulations of larger water masses. This will in turn cause the lake in question to form a kind of built-in river that drives the water outwards.
All events in the relevant area must have this as the executive cause, according to the weather service.
Afterwards, the authorities in the respective area regretted the increase in “tragic and unnecessary” fatal incidents, and at the same time took the opportunity to ask people to heed safety warnings.
Men only
The seven victims are men aged between 30 and 60, of whom the youngest was 39 and the oldest 68.
– Personal responsibility is the only thing you can do to ensure that no more people die, says Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford in a statement on Facebook.
Fines amounting to 500 dollars – converted to almost 5,400 Norwegian kroner – should be one of the links to prevent more people from venturing into the water despite warnings.
At the same time, the sheriff emphasizes that the authorities in the area have neither the time nor the resources to follow up individual incidents in order to potentially issue fees.
The responsibility is therefore individual.
– More than frustrated
In the Facebook statement, the sheriff shared little reticence about previous dark experiences in the area.
– I am more than frustrated by the situation we have regarding tragic and unnecessary deaths in and around the Gulf, he writes, and adds:
– I have witnessed firefighters, lifeguards and policemen who risk their lives to save strangers. In addition, I have seen two fathers die on Father’s Day in persistent attempts to save their loved ones, it continues.
At the same time, he adds that any violation of warnings and calls is equivalent to “pointing the finger” at everyone who has taken risks – and by extension also lost their lives during rescue missions.
2023-06-30 18:40:49
#Popular #surfing #spot #dead
