The two deaths and the moments of danger for many others brought the sheriff’s office to plead with those swimming to be aware of the currents and the warnings.
UPDATE, 4/13/21: MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. (WWL-TV) — An LSU Electrical Engineering student drowned and two Nicholls State University students were hurt after trying to save a boy from a rip current during their spring break in Florida last week.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office reported on April 8 that a 21-year-old man was pulled from the waters in Miramar Beach and later died. That man was later identified as 21-year-old Layne Gravois of Gray, La.
Gravois’ mother, Kristi Gros Gravois, told WWL-TV that her son and his friends were trying to save a little boy in distress when they were pulled by the rip currents themselves.
“He only went in the water to try and save him,” Kristi Gros Gravois said.
She said that Layne was a junior honor student at Louisiana State University studying electrical engineering.
“Amazing son, athlete – loved football, baseball,” his mother said. “Loved fishing, traveling, being with friends and family. He was the absolute best and we were blessed with him.”
Two Nicholls State University students were also hospitalized after attempted to rescue the young boy. A spokesperson for the university identified those students as Jordan Servat and Reed Boudreaux.
“Someone lost their life in an act of heroism. It was very sad,” spokesperson Jarod David told Houma Today.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office closed waters in the county on April 8 after more than a dozen people were pulled from the Gulf of Mexico.
“During these water rescues, the flags stood at single red,” the sheriff’s office wrote on social media on Saturday. “That still indicates that the water was an incredible threat to human life with high surf and strong rip currents.”
Another man, later identified as 55-year-old Kim McGrady, also died by accidental drowning on the same day near the same beach. 11Alive.com reports that a memorial set up for McGrady said that he also died trying to save others while at the beach with his family.
“While saving three people, Kim got caught in the riptide and drowned,” the memorial said. “Kim was always one to put others before himself. Kim McGrady left this world a hero.”
The two deaths and the moments of danger for many others brought the sheriff’s office to plead with those swimming to be aware of the currents and the warnings.
“Know that just because we cannot keep you out of the Gulf during single red, does not mean you should be in it,” the sheriff’s office said. “Mother Nature can be very unforgiving.”
ORIGINAL STORY: MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. (WWL-TV) — Authorities say two men have died after they were pulled from the water near Sandestin, Fla. last week. One victim was identified as a 21-year-old from Gray, La. in Terrebonne Parish.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said both men were pulled from the water in Miramar Beach on April 8. The sheriff’s office posted an update on the water rescues on social media on Saturday.
“During these water rescues, the flags stood at single red. That still indicates the water as an incredible threat to human life with high surf and strong rip currents,” the sheriff’s office wrote.
The sheriff’s office added that it is “begging” visitors to head the warning flags on beaches.
The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate reports that the other victim was a 55-year-old from Dunwoody, Ga.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office closed waters in the county on April 8 after more than a dozen people were pulled from the Gulf of Mexico.
