Parents Of Six Tragically Drown While Vacationing With Their Children: “They Were In Panic Mode & Unfortunately Went Under”

A Pennsylvania family endured an unspeakable tragedy when parents drowned in front of their six children while on vacation. 

On Friday, around 1:30 p.m., the couple, 51-year-old Brian Warter and 48-year-old Erica Wishard, were spending time on Hutchinson Island, Florida. The pair were at the beach with two of their kids, though there were eight people on the trip in total. Shortly after going into the water, Warter and Wishard and two of their teenage children were swept away by a rip current. The strong waves overpowered each, though the teens were able to break free. They attempted to rescue their parents but could not because of the intensity of the waves. 

Lifeguards pulled both Warter and Wishard from the water and attempted CPR on the shore as the teens looked on. They were transported to a local hospital, where further life-saving efforts were made. Sadly, they were pronounced dead shortly after. 

“Multiple witnesses told our investigators that both the male and female, who are now deceased, got in the ocean, right into a rip current, and immediately were pulled from the shore. One of the children of the deceased tried to yell to them instructions on how to swim parallel to the shore, but they were in panic mode and unfortunately went under,” Martin County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy John Budensiek told WPBF 25 News.

The teens who witnessed the tragic accident were being assisted by the Martin County Sheriff’s Crisis Intervention Team until they could be reunited with family.