Florida Rip Current Kills Pennsylvania Parents Of Six

A​ Pennsylvania couple died in a rip current on a Florida beach Thursday while on vacation with their six children.

T​he incident happened about an hour north of West Palm Beach at Hutchinson Island, a barrier island in Martin County on the Atlantic Coast.

Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishard, 48, were visiting with their six kids, most of whom are teenagers, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

T​hey were swimming outside of an area further up the beach that's protected by lifeguards and where red flags warned of the danger.

(M​ORE: Here's What Lifeguard Beach Flags Mean)

"We had very strong surf, about 4-to 6-feet, maybe some waves a little larger, and very powerful rip currents," Martin County Ocean Rescue Chief Ian Montgelas told weather.com Friday.

"The swimmers that had gotten in the water, they had jumped directly into a rip current and immediately got pulled out to sea."

T​he lifeguards saw what was happening and were already driving down the beach to warn the couple when the situation escalated as Warter and Wishard struggled. Two of the teens were also swept up, but escaped the current and tried to help their parents.

(​MORE: What To Do If You Get Caught In A Rip Current)

The incident happened as a low off the Southeast coast, designated Invest 92L, churned up the sea and created high surf in some areas.

"When that happens, water can 'pile up' along the coast. When too much water rises near the coast, it can rush back out to sea in a narrow channel," weather.com senior meteorologist Dina Knightly said.

Those channels, called rip currents, are hard to see and can sweep swimmers away from the beach. At least 11 other people have died in rip currents on U.S. beaches so far this year with summer just getting started, according to data tracked by the National Weather Service. Ninety-one people died last year, making rip currents second only to heat in terms of weather-related deaths.

"These are strong currents that not even an Olympic swimmer can overcome," Knightly said. "If caught in a rip current, don't fight it. Let it pull you away from the beach and when the current lessens, swim parallel to the shore to escape it. Then you should be able to make it back to the beach safely."

I​f you can't swim parallel to the shore, don't panic. Remain calm until the current releases you, and try to signal for help.

O​ther safety tips include checking NOAA's surf zone forecast before going to the beach and knowing your own physical limits when swimming.

“But above all else, if you are going to go in, make sure you go to a lifeguarded beach," Montgelas said.

Weather.com reporter Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.