During their first family vacation in Florida, parents of six, Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishart, 48, faced an unimaginable tragedy.

On June 20, while swimming off Hutchinson Island with two of their children, the family was caught in a dangerous situation. Although the children managed to save themselves, Brian and Erica were at the mercy of the ocean’s strong currents.

Emergency responders arrived quickly and launched rescue efforts. Despite their best attempts, Brian and Erica could not be saved and were tragically pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

The ocean conditions that day were extremely dangerous. Red flags were posted along the beach, a clear indication of hazardous rip currents, according to Cory Pippen of Martin County Fire Rescue. These flags are meant to warn swimmers of dangerous water conditions, such as strong rip currents, which can quickly become deadly.

Brian and Erica had been together for over a year before they got engaged, and they had plans to marry after their children graduated from college. The family had been eagerly anticipating this vacation for a long time, hoping to make lasting memories together. As Brian’s father, Larry Warter, reflected, “They were beyond excited. This was something they had never done before, a family vacation with all the kids. It took over a month of planning.”

The outpouring of support for Brian and Erica’s family from friends, relatives, and the community has been overwhelming. Larry expressed his gratitude, saying, “The offers of help and support have been incredible. We didn’t realize we weren’t going through this alone.”

A GoFundMe page was set up in their memory, where Wayne Sallurday paid tribute to Erica in a heartfelt message. He described her as an exceptional person—dedicated to her work as a teacher, a loving mother, and an active volunteer at her local church. He emphasized that Erica was one of the kindest people he had ever known.

The National Weather Service provides crucial information about rip currents, emphasizing that while these currents don’t pull swimmers underwater, they can quickly tire them out. Staying calm in these situations is vital. The service advises against swimming directly against the current, as it will only exhaust a person more. Instead, swimmers should swim parallel to the shore until they are free from the current’s pull. Once out of the current, they should swim at an angle toward the shore. Additionally, the National Weather Service stresses the importance of swimming with a buddy and remembering the saying, “If in doubt, don’t go out.”

This heartbreaking event is a somber reminder of the dangers posed by rip currents and the importance of heeding safety warnings while swimming. May Brian and Erica rest in peace.