Two People Rescued from Rip Current at Hobe Sound Beach as Palm Beach County Warns Against Ocean Swimming

Two people were rescued from a rip current at Hobe Sound Beach on Sunday morning, according to Martin County Fire Rescue — the same day Palm Beach County ocean rescue teams were warning the public to stay out of the water entirely.

The rescues took place shortly before 11 AM at Hobe Sound Beach on Jupiter Island. The ages and identities of the two victims were not released.

The incident came as dangerous surf conditions extended along both Martin and Palm Beach County coastlines. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue issued an explicit warning this weekend advising beachgoers to avoid the ocean due to heavy surf and strong currents. Officials encouraged anyone who does head to the beach to choose a location with lifeguards on duty and to follow instructions from ocean rescue personnel.

Rip currents are the leading cause of drowning deaths at surf beaches in the United States. They form when water pushed toward shore by waves funnels back out through a narrow channel, creating a fast, concentrated outward flow. Rip currents can move at speeds of up to 8 feet per second — faster than an Olympic swimmer — and quickly exhaust anyone who fights against them.

The safest response if caught in a rip current: do not swim directly against it toward shore. Instead, swim parallel to the shoreline until the current weakens, then angle back in. If you are too tired to swim out, float on your back, signal for help, and conserve energy.

Surf advisories along South Florida's Atlantic coast can shift quickly with changing wind and swell patterns, particularly during storm-heavy periods in late September and early October. Current beach hazard advisories are posted at weather.gov and through NWS Miami.