GALVESTON, Texas — A 20-year-old woman from Honduras who was living in Houston drowned Sunday morning while swimming with her brother in Galveston, beach patrol confirmed.
This happened around 6:30 a.m. near 76th and Seawall Boulevard.
According to Galveston Beach Patrol, witnesses saw the girl, Yamileth Ramirez, bodysurfing with her brother when they noticed she started to struggle. She was pulled to shore and bystanders started CPR while emergency crews were on their way.
Ramirez was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Sunday evening, Galveston Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis spoke to KHOU 11 News just after he tried to rescue her.
"When I was out there pulling her in, I did feel current pushing against me from shore. There was enough that it was hard enough for (me to) make it back to the sand bar she stepped off of, my guess," he said.
Galveston native Nathan Shelnutt said he had to swim against those strong currents on Sunday.
"It’s a little worrisome, you can kind of feel it pull you out, it’ll kind of take you off to the side, if you’re not careful, if you don’t recognize it will pull you out," he said.
Davis said this weekend, lifeguard towers are double-staffed and extra patrols and volunteers are all on high alert. Still, beachgoers have to be vigilant themselves to be safe.
"We say don’t check your brain at the causeway," Davis said. “Maintain situational awareness when you come to the beach, don’t let your guard down, and use those safety precautions while you’re having fun, and working together we can get you home safe,"
This comes just one day after a 26-year-old man drowned after getting caught in a rip current near Pleasure Pier. Several others had to be rescued from rip currents Saturday as well.
"Our thoughts are with the families of these unspeakably tragic events," beach patrol said.
Rip current warning along Texas coast
There's a rip current warning all along the Texas coast this Memorial Day weekend.
Galveston Island Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis said all weekend long they’ll be flying a red flag warning at the beach.
“If you’re a good swimmer who’s an adult, you don’t want to go above your waist and stay extra far away from jetties. If you’re a non-swimmer and you have kids, it’s a great day to make a sandcastle,” Davis said.
That means those people should stay out of the water. Why? Well, Davis said dangers are lurking in the water in the form of rip currents.
“A rip current is essentially a little river that leads straight out to the water,” Davis said.
Davis said the dangerous rip currents like to form near jetties and piers. That’s why he’s asking everyone in the water to stay even further away from them than normal. If you do find yourself in a rip current, there’s one thing to remember.
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“Don’t panic and float. As long as you stay calm and float, you're going to be ok,” Davis told KHOU 11 News.
Davis said you should call for help once the water calms.
What to do if you get caught in a rip current
Even strong swimmers can get into trouble if they get caught in a rip current. At speeds of up to eight feet per second, the currents can move faster than an Olympic swimmer, according to NOAA.
If it happens to you, yell for help and try not to panic.
"Relax and float. Don`t swim against the current," the National Weather Service advises. "If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline."
Before you head to the beach, always check your local beach conditions. Look at the wave forecast. If you have waves two to three feet high or greater, you could have strong rip currents.
Rip currents usually occur during low tide.
Once you're there, listen to the lifeguards and beach patrol. Pay attention to flags and signs.
If warning flags are up, adult swimmers should stay in water no more than waist deep, while non-swimmers and children should be kept along the surf line.
Swim near a lifeguard, if possible.