Sheriff: Mississippi tourist drowns in rough Florida surf

OKALOOSA ISLAND, Fla. (AP) – Authorities in the Florida Panhandle are investigating the apparent drowning of a 19-year-old woman from Mississippi.

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s officials said in a news release that Sara Sebren of Pearl, Mississippi, was swimming with friends on Wednesday night when she began struggling in the water.

The news release says they were about 250 feet (76 meters) from shore at the time. They were able to help her to the beach with the help of a flotation device.

Firefighters began CPR and Sebren was taken to a hospital where she was declared dead.

Beach Safety Chief Rich Huffnagle tells the Northwest Florida Daily News that red warning flags had been flying all day Wednesday and rip currents were present. He also advises against swimming in the Gulf of Mexico after dark.

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Categories: Regional

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