Gina Heslop
Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishart, 48, were a couple deeply in love and excited for their first family vacation together.
They had six children, and the trip to Florida marked a special occasion for them. They had been planning it for over a month, eagerly anticipating a chance to create happy memories as a blended family. The family went to Hutchinson Island to enjoy the beach and the ocean on June 20. However, what was meant to be a joyous trip quickly turned into a tragedy.
Brian and Erica were swimming in the ocean with two of their teenage children when they got caught in a dangerous rip current.
Rip currents are fast-moving channels of water that can pull swimmers away from the shore, making it extremely hard to swim back. The two teens managed to escape the current and make it to safety, but their parents were not so fortunate.
Despite the teens’ brave attempts to save their parents, Brian and Erica were overwhelmed by the powerful current and could not free themselves.
Emergency responders arrived quickly and tried to rescue the couple. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, but tragically, both Brian and Erica were pronounced dead.
The day of the incident, red flags had been raised at the beach, warning people of the dangerous rip currents in the water. These warnings are meant to alert swimmers about hazardous conditions, but the couple was still caught in the deadly current.
The National Weather Service often advises people on how to handle rip currents. They stress that swimming directly toward the shore is not safe, as this can tire swimmers out quickly. Instead, they suggest swimming along the shoreline to escape the pull of the current. Staying calm and avoiding panic is crucial for survival.
Brian and Erica had been together for over a year and were planning to get married once all their children finished college. They were described as a loving couple who were clearly very much in love. Brian’s father, Larry Warter, shared how excited they both were about their first vacation with all their children together.
The news of their passing has left their family and community devastated. Brian’s parents, Larry and Susie Warter, expressed their heartbreak but also spoke about the overwhelming support they received from friends, family, and the community.
A GoFundMe page was set up in the couple’s memory, and many people shared tributes, especially remembering Erica’s kind and caring nature.
She worked as a teacher for special needs children and was involved in her local church. Friends described her as one of the nicest people you could ever meet.
