One dead, several others rescued in severe rip current near Jacksonville Beach Pier

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — A young woman is dead tonight after Jacksonville Ocean and Rescue says a rip current took her underwater and she never resurfaced. She is just one of the multiple people rescued today.

Many Beachgoers tell Action News Jax that the victim was underwater for nearly 20 minutes- though the others could be saved- she couldn’t.

“One of them did not survive,” says Captain Rob Emahiser.

Emahiser says the young woman was with a group of people when this happened

“There was a group of people, mostly non-swimmers got caught in a rip current,” says Emahiser.

Emahiser says at least 6 people were rescued from the water by his lifeguards.

Two of the 6 were rushed to the hospital including the woman who later died.

Emahiser says his lifeguards did all they could do to save the victim’s life.

“Everyone was pulled out of the water, one was not breathing and CPR was performed,” says Emahiser.

Emahiser says ocean conditions today were rough- warranting a red flag.

“We’ve been trying to get the message out to everyone that ocean conditions are very dangerous,” says Emahiser.

I spoke with several beachgoers including Darrell McBride Sr.

He says he saw the young woman go underwater right in front of him

“They were playing in the water and then we saw the hands flaring around,” says McBride.

McBride Sr. says the lifeguards searched for the victim for almost 20 minutes, when they found her, he says it was hard for him to watch

“I cried, it was very tragic for me. My heart to the family. I hate to be the father to get that news or the mother to get that news, it’s pretty sad,” says

Action News Jax First Alert Weather Team expects ocean conditions to get worse later in the as Hurricane Ian moves towards Florida.

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