Sheriff Blasts Swimmers for Ignoring Rip Current Warnings – as 11 People Drown, Including Ex-NFL QB Ryan Mallett

A Florida sheriff blasted beachgoers for ignoring the warnings about treacherous rip currents leading to the "tragic and unnecessary deaths" of 11 swimmers in the last two weeks—including former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett.

The 11 victims of rip currents have happened along the coast from Panama City Beach, Fla., to Fort Morgan, Ala., according to the National Weather Service.

Mallett, 35, who played for the New England Patriots, the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens, died Tuesday in an apparent drowning in Destin, Fla., about 50 miles west of Panama City Beach.

Of the 11 people who drowned along that stretch of the coast since June 15, seven occurred at Panama City Beach, making the resort town the highest number of beach fatalities in the U.S. for 2023.

Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford—whose county includes Panama City Beach—said he was furious about the deaths as beachgoers disregard warnings from deputies and lifeguards. 

"I'm beyond frustrated at the situation that we have with tragic and unnecessary deaths in the Gulf," he wrote on the department's Facebook page. "I have watched while deputies, firefighters and lifeguards have risked their lives to save strangers.

"I have seen strangers die trying to save their children and loved ones, including two fathers on Fathers Day."

He added: "These same heroes, who have risked it all to save others, have been cursed and given the finger, while trying to warn visitors of the life-threatening dangers." 

There have been 60 drownings in the U.S. so far this year.

Over the past two week, Panama City Police responded to 70 calls of swimmers in distress in the past couple of weeks, including 39 on Saturday when three people drowned in rip currents. 

Ford said people must take "personal responsibility." 

"Government and law enforcement can only do so much in these situations. Personal responsibility is the only way to ensure that no one else dies. Please make the effort to know the flag status and stay completely out of the water," he said.

Riptides are a "relatively small-scale surf-zone current moving away from the beach," the National Weather Service said. 

Water trapped between the beach and a sandbar or other underwater structure creates a river-like channel that flows away from the shore at high speed. 

It doesn't pull swimmers underwater, rather it pulls them into deeper water away from the shore. 

Ford said even the most proficient swimmer can be taken by a riptide.

"You say you are a 'good' swimmer, an experienced swimmer, a competitive swimmer. But you are no match for a rip current," he said.