Three men from Birmingham, Alabama, drowned Friday evening after getting caught in rip currents at Panama City Beach in Florida, despite rescue efforts involving the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies.

The tragic incident underscores the perilous nature of rip currents along Florida’s Gulf Coast, coming shortly after a Pennsylvania couple also drowned under similar circumstances. Despite warnings of high-hazard surf conditions, including red flags posted earlier in the week, the men entered the water and were unable to escape the strong currents. The Bay County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Coast Guard led extensive rescue efforts, but the victims were ultimately found and pronounced dead at local hospitals. This tragedy contributes to a rising toll of rip current fatalities, prompting officials to urge beachgoers to exercise extreme caution.

The Bay County Sheriff's Office received an emergency call regarding distressed swimmers shortly after 8 p.m. upon which the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies promptly initiated rescue efforts. Despite these efforts, the three men were found separately and later pronounced dead at local hospitals.

The victims were identified as Harold Denzel Hunter, age 24, Jemonda Ray, age 25, and Marius Richardson, age 24, all from Birmingham, Alabama. The men had arrived with friends in Bay County on Friday evening and, after checking into their rental, went to swim in the water.

Earlier in the week, single red flags had been posted at the beach, signalling high-hazard surf and the presence of dangerous rip currents. Despite these warnings, the men ventured into the water and were subsequently caught in the strong currents.

First responders from various agencies continued their search and rescue operations for more than two hours. Sheriff Tommy Ford expressed his sorrow in an official statement, mentioning the heavy heart over the loss and the community's efforts to locate the men.

The National Weather Service had highlighted a high rip current risk for Florida's Gulf beaches, with life-threatening rip currents reported as of Saturday morning. This warning remained crucial as beachgoers continued to visit the area.

In addition to this incident, other tragic swimming accidents have occurred in recent days. A Pennsylvania couple drowned at Hutchinson Island after being caught in a rip current while visiting Florida with their six children. Similar deadly incidents have been reported along the East Coast and in the South.

As of June 9, the National Weather Service reported at least 11 fatalities attributed to rip currents. One of the recent incidents involved two teenagers who went missing at Jacob Riis Park in Queens, New York. The U.S. Coast Guard had to suspend their search after covering 600 square miles off the coasts of New Jersey and New York.

Commander Jonathan Andrechik of the Coast Guard’s New York sector shared the emotional weight and difficulty of deciding to suspend the search for the missing teens, reflecting a broader challenge faced by rescue operations dealing with rip current-related incidents.

A statement from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Panama City station urged locals and visitors to exercise caution in the Gulf waters due to the unpredictable and often treacherous nature of rip currents. This advisory is part of continued efforts to prevent future tragedies.

This recent series of drownings has raised concerns among local authorities and prompted reminders for beachgoers to heed warning signs and flags. Attention to these warnings is crucial to ensuring the safety of individuals enjoying coastal waters, especially during periods of high surf and strong currents.