While on vacation with their six children in Florida, a couple from Pennsylvania sadly perished after becoming entangled in a hazardous rip current. On June 20, while swimming on Hutchinson Island with two of their teenage children, Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishart, 48, things took a tragic turn.
Details of the tragic event were made public by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, which stated that despite the teenagers’ valiant attempts to save their parents, they were finally unable to overcome the powerful current. After prompt emergency response, Brian and Erica were taken to a neighboring hospital. Unfortunately, hospital personnel declared the pair dead in spite of the rescue efforts.
The water conditions were said to be particularly dangerous on the day of the disaster. Red flags were flying at the beach to alert swimmers to the dangerous rip currents, according to Phillyburbs.com. Cory Pippen, a spokesperson of Martin County Fire Rescue, verified that the flags were there to warn beachgoers of the hazardous circumstances.
Larry Warter, Brian’s father, told CBS 12 News that Brian and Erica had been dating for more than a year and were engaged. Whereas Brian had two children, Erica had four. The couple had made the decision to postpone marriage until after their kids graduated from college. As the family’s first vacation together as a blended family, their journey to Stuart, Florida, was a significant occasion.
Larry Warter remembered Brian and Erica’s enthusiasm for the journey. He remarked, “They were so excited that they couldn’t see straight about going down.” This was the initial instance. The experiment was this. Together, they had all six of their children. It had taken them more than a month to plan.
Additionally, Brian’s parents emphasized their devotion for the pair and conveyed their strong affection for them. Larry remarked, “It was obvious if you were around them,” and Susie Warter, Brian’s mother, noted that everyone knew the pair well and that there was a lot of hope for their future together.

In the wake of the tragedy, the Warter family has been profoundly touched by the community’s support. We’ve been inundated with offers of assistance and other things. Larry revealed, “We thought we were going through this alone, but it hasn’t been.”
Wayne Sallurday honored Erica by calling her “just an amazing person” on a fundraiser page. He said Erica was a devoted mother to her four kids, one of which was a boy she adopted when she was a little child. Erica taught special education students at an elementary school before moving on to the school library. She participated actively in her local church as well. The memorial said, “She was one of the nicest human beings you could ever meet.”
Over $60,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe page set up in honor of Brian and Erica, demonstrating the kindness and support of the community during this trying time.
On its website, the National Weather Service offers important guidance on rip currents. It highlights that although rip currents do not drag swimmers under, they can swiftly exhaust them, making escape challenging. Maintaining composure is essential for survival.
The energy you need to survive and get out of the rip current will be depleted if you try to swim against it. Avoid swimming straight into the shore. To get away from the current’s draw, swim along the beach. The organization recommends swimming at an angle away from the current toward shore after you are not being pulled by it. Additionally, it advises against swimming alone and to abide by the maxim “If in doubt, don’t go out.”
This tragic event emphasizes how dangerous rip currents may be and how crucial it is to heed safety advisories when swimming.