History Forum / General / British History / May 2007

Beach Closed After Lifeguards Make 200 Rescues In Three Hours
Woman Found In Surf Barely Breathing

May 28, 2007

COCOA BEACH, Fla. -- Lifeguards closed Shepard Park beach on
Memorial Day after they performed more than 200 rescues during a three hour
period.

Hundreds of swimmers at the beach were rescued between 12 and 3
p.m., said Brevard County Ocean Lifeguard assistant chief Jeff Scarbozi.

Lifeguards pulled a woman to safety who witnesses said was
barely breathing.

"We are told from people on scene that the woman had a very
faint pulse as she was taken away to Cape Canaveral Hospital," Local 6's
Ramin Khalili said.

The heavy surf along the coast of Central Florida has punched
holes in sandbars, allowing rip currents to funnel through the holes and
pull swimmers out to sea.

Meanwhile, in Daytona Beach, dozens of people were rescued after
getting trapped in rip currents, Local 6's Tarik Minor said.

"It is a risk for everyone," lifeguard Libby Michelini said. "It
is a risk for strong swimmers and small children and we are really trying to
make sure we don't have any bathers caught in those."

There were also two near-deaths in the surf in New Smyrna Beach
Monday, Minor said.

Lifeguards in Daytona Beach said they have been fielding calls
about missing children all day because of the strong currents.

"In this small area, we had two small children go missing,"
Michelini said. "We found them and reunited them with their families. But
one of the frequent scenarios is that the children go into the water and
this fairly strong north current takes them away from their parents area and
they go missing."

A man in Cocoa Beach, Fla., drowned north of the Cocoa Beach
Pier Saturday night.

Beach patrol officers said Rafael Cano was swimming with his
family just north of the Cocoa Beach Pier when he became caught in the rough
surf Saturday night.

Bystanders pulled Cano out of the water but he was already in
cardiac arrest, according to witnesses.

Cano was pronounced dead Saturday night at Cape Canaveral
Hospital.