Tourist Pulled From Neptune Beach Surf Dies
Second Victim In Surf Hospitalized
POSTED: Thursday, August 21, 2008
NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. -- One of two people pulled from seas churned up by Tropical Storm Fay on Thursday afternoon has died and the other is hospitalized.
"Two teenagers had come in here and asked me to call 911 and said that somebody was drowning out on the beach," said Terry Williams, who works at an Atlantic Beach business. "They immediately drug her up off the beach. She was just lifeless. It was just really scary."
Channel 4 learned that the 21-year-old woman from Indiana was transported to Beaches Baptist in critical condition, where she died.
Neptune Beach Police Chief David Sembach said the second victim -- one of two men who were swimming with her about 12:30 p.m. -- was taken to Mayo Clinic hospital in what was described as non-life-threatening condition.
The names of the victims were not immediately released.
Earlier in the day, Channel 4's Steve Douglas saw two surfers bypass barricades at the Jacksonville Beach Pier and jump into the water with their surfboards. They managed to make it back to shore, but took off when Jacksonville Beach police tried to catch up with them and cite them for trespassing.
With wind gusting over 50 mph and the surf running at least 2 feet above normal, authorities are asking people to stay away from the beaches and, certainly, out of the water.
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