Two tired snorkelers were rescued off Florida’s Panhandle before they were swept out into the Gulf on the Fourth of July, according to video posted to Facebook on July 7.
The swimmers were exhausted from fighting a strong outgoing current, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said in the post. Two members of the OCSO Marine Unit, Lt. Brian Parkton and Sgt. Pierre Batiste, spotted the distressed pair and pulled them safely aboard their vessel, the OCSO said.
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“They were able to reach them, pull them safely aboard, and bring them back to shore unharmed,” the sheriff’s office posted to Facebook.
“Please remember the currents in the Pass can be extremely strong and carry even good swimmers out from shore.”
Where is Destin’s East Pass?
East Pass is a section of water on the coast of Destin in the Florida Panhandle that connects Choctawhatchee Bay to the Gulf. It’s known for powerful outgoing currents when the tide goes out.
In 2025, 10-year-old Trinity Eslinger was last seen in the East Pass but was never located, WJHQ reported, despite an extensive six-day search by multiple agencies covering 250 square miles.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Watch as snorkelers in trouble rescued in Florida
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Pensacola News Journal
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By C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
