A tragic incident unfolded on Fort Lauderdale Beach when a 13-year-old boy, identified as Jerry Hyppolite from Palm Beach County, tragically drowned while swimming with his basketball teammates. The young athlete had traveled from Lake Worth with the Team Jordan Basketball Club and was enjoying the ocean near Seabreeze Boulevard when conditions quickly became hazardous.
As the waters turned rough, lifeguards promptly intervened. Despite their efforts, Hyppolite went missing, and emergency crews from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue commenced a search that lasted nearly two hours. The search was eventually called off after failing to locate the boy, whose body was later discovered.
Initial reports mistakenly stated Jerry’s age as 12, but authorities confirmed he was 13. The incident coincided with a high rip current advisory along South Florida’s coast, issued by Local 10 News Weather Authority, which persisted through Sunday evening. This advisory came after numerous rescues throughout the weekend, highlighting the increased danger posed by rip currents.
Gio Serrano, an Ocean Rescue lieutenant, noted the challenges faced by lifeguards due to the hazardous conditions, marked by red and purple flags indicating high rip current levels. Over the weekend, Fort Lauderdale’s lifeguard team conducted 33 water rescues, with some beach areas temporarily closed to ensure public safety. Flags were strategically placed in the sand to warn visitors of unsafe swimming areas.
Despite the closures, many beachgoers chose to remain safely near the shore, heeding the warnings. In Miami, lifeguards were equally busy, responding to 45 water rescues, underscoring the need for vigilance as summer approaches.
Ocean rescue teams across Fort Lauderdale and Miami stress the importance of beach safety. Visitors are encouraged to frequent beaches monitored by lifeguards and to consult them regarding current conditions. In the event of being caught in a rip current, individuals are advised to swim parallel to the shore to escape the current and then swim back to land safely.
As the warm weather draws more people to the beaches, safety remains the top priority for ocean rescue teams, who continue to educate and protect beachgoers from the dangers of rip currents.