“That’s amazing to hear and that makes my heart really feel great,” Genners smiled. ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- State officials are warning people along Florida's east coast of strong rip currents this week. Two nurses gave CPR and paramedics rushed her to Flagler Hospital, but the man who first rescued a woman from a rip current and onto the sand is still anonymous. There were several people instrumental in saving her, but at least one is still anonymous. But Kelly survived, and in hindsight Genners’ and Swilley’s actions made an enormous difference. && Rip Current Risk Category * Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however, life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins, jetties, reefs, and piers. Visit the Nation’s Oldest City. “Elevated risk continues at area beaches [through] Sunday,” Friday’s NWS statement said. Highs in the mid 60s. ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. — A woman who nearly drowned at St. Augustine Beach Saturday is still recovering from her injuries after getting caught in a rip current. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Rip currents are ALWAYS a possibility, so please know how to get out of one if you go in the ocean. East winds around 10 mph. ST. AUGUSTINE, FL (WSIL) — A father and son from Vergennes, Illinois had to be rescued by emergency officials while swimming off the coast of St. Augustine Beach, Florida on Tuesday. All rip currents cause a break in the ocean, but they are difficult to spot when you are at sea level and are most noticeable from higher ground, like a beach access point. “He truly was the catalyst for what was a group of complete strangers coming together to make the scariest day of our lives one of the happiest.”. Life threatening rip currents are possible. The National Weather Service has issued rough sea advisory for nearly the entire Atlantic coast. ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. (WTLV) — A woman who nearly drowned at St. Augustine Beach Saturday is still recovering from her injuries after getting caught in a rip current. “When I saw him coming in he looked exhausted.”. The National Weather Service has reported that rip currents are the most deadly weather-related event in Florida claiming over 25 lives each year. Formation chance through 48 hours…high…80 percent. The result can carry swimmers into deep water quickly. Weather Underground provides local & long-range weather forecasts, weatherreports, maps & tropical weather conditions for the Saint Augustine Beach area. But they wouldn’t learn until Monday that the woman they helped had survived, and even then it was because of intense efforts by those close to Kelly, using social media to find the people who first saved her. “I turned around and saw somebody carrying [Kelly] out,” Jeff Iwanski remembered. Most waves are caused by winds and storms at sea. With easterly wind gusts expected up to 30 mph and seas expected to build up to 7 -10 feet by Saturday, the NWS has issued a rip current advisory. BEACH FORECAST. “We want nothing more than to be able to just thank him for being there.”. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Saint Augustine Beach Weather Forecasts. “I noticed a woman being carried out of the water,” Kelsey Genners told First Coast News, describing the woman as limp. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. The couple had invited a number of their friends to join them at the beach instead. As a result, this energy creates a current called the long shore current. “We got Gia out of the water, thinking she’d just been tossed around,” Laura Iwanksi told First Coast News. Laura Iwanski was devastated as her friend was driven away. And, as of Tuesday, no one seemed to know who the man was who made it all possible by carrying Kelly from the water. Check the current conditions for St Augustine, FL for the day ahead, with radar, hourly, and up to the minute forecasts. Genners said she wasn’t sure, even after the woman was taken away by ambulance that she would survive. Tide Times are EST (UTC -5.0hrs). Answer 1 of 4: We are planning to family trip to St. Augustine in May. Top 10 Things to Keep in Mind When Visiting the Beach When you’re looking for things to do in St. Augustine, it isn’t unusual … The two women and their husbands had brought their kids to the beach for a day of fun. He was wearing blue swim trunks. “We were certain that she was gone,” Laura Iwanski said of her friend – only identified so far as Kelly. Get ready for big surf, rip currents, possible beach erosion . Swim near a lifeguard. With easterly wind gusts expected up to 30 mph and seas expected to build up to 7 -10 feet by Saturday, the NWS has issued a rip current advisory. The National Weather Service reports that Rip Currents are the most deadly weather related event in Florida claiming over 25 lives each year. at Flagler Hospital that they saved my life along with the gentleman that pulled me from the water and my 14-year-old son who never gave up. Typical flow is 1-2 feet per second and can be as fast as 8 feet per second. ... Marine Life, Rip Currents, Sea Turtle Season, Tidal Flooding, Warning Flags. Later in the weekend and early next week, the system is expected to move generally northeastward over the western Atlantic. Don`t swim against the current. That meant administering C.P.R. Getting out with a surfboard can … “That was the first time I’d ever met [Swilley], and afterward, when we left, we were like ‘We’re bonded now!’”. “I would say, like, three minutes, but it felt like 10 years,” Gia Iwanski recalled. The grey shading corresponds to nighttime hours between sunset and sunrise at Saint Augustine Beach. She would later understand that “Gia and Ty and Kelly were struggling in the current for a couple of minutes before things turned really south.”. “The doctors said that it was 100% the quality of the C.P.R. A rip current is a narrow, powerful current of water that runs perpendicular to the beach, out into the ocean. Formation chance through 5 days…high…80 percent. While Ty heeded that desperate plea to prioritize saving his fellow teen, his mother would actually disappear beneath the waves. “I was really hopeful that she was. that was done in those first few minutes that kept her from experiencing brain damage and just death in general,” Laura Iwanski said. * Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the surf zone. You can easily spot a … “Ty reached, like, put his hand out, so I grabbed it,” Gia Iwanski said. Chaos ensued as the youngsters struggled their way back to the beach, and although no one seemed to recall their precise moments of awareness, they eventually realized that someone was saving Kelly. St. Augustine beach officials are warning vacationers to stay out of the water this weekend, while those who remain in Gainesville are being urged to … However, St. Augustine Beach took another beating, with strong surf and rip currents in the storm’s wake. She also would learn from Kelly – much later – that Kelly had been at the brink of surrendering to exhaustion. Note: St. Johns County recommends that swimmers be able to swim an overhand stroke for 15 minutes if … Matt Soergel @SoergelMatt Friday Mar 2, 2018 at 8:16 PM Mar 2, ... into St. Augustine, even … In a flurry, two nurses who were part of a nearby party became aware of what was happening. Rip Current Facts. Genners and Leanna Swilley, who had never met before Saturday, were common friends of a couple who had planned their wedding for that day but were delayed by the coronavirus crisis. Rip currents are strong, fast-moving, channels of water that move from the shore seaward. The red flashing dot shows the tide time right now. “He gave [Kelly’s sons] their Mom back,” Laura Iwanski affirmed. With its soft, sandy beaches, beautiful ocean views, and proximity to restaurants and shops, it’s no wonder that St. Augustine Beach continues to top lists for best beaches in the country. “Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.”. “Everyone is desperate to get their toes in the sand,” Mariotti said. Rip Current Statement issued January 17 at 3:38AM EST until January 17 at 11:00PM EST by NWS ... Virginia Beach, VA; ... watches and advisories as reported by the NOAA National Weather Service for the Saint Augustine area and overall St. Johns county, Florida. “I wanted to be able to tell everybody I love them because I thought that was it for me.”. Residents lucky enough to be off today can enjoy mostly sunny and breezy holiday weather with a high around 85 degrees. Large surf generates rip currents by pushing large volumes of water on shore and when that water retreats into the ocean, sometimes there’s a cut in a sand bar and that creates a stream of water heading outward. Buzz: Office pod mini-van is a dream for those working from home, Stories of Service: NAS Jax's 'Blue Jacket of the Year' strives to achieve new goals while serving our country, First Coast Forecast: April pattern for the last week of January, It's official, Jaguars promote Trent Baalke to General Manager, The stage is set: Buccaneers and Chiefs will meet in Tampa Bay for Super Bowl LV, Hundreds of books pour in for Jacksonville elementary school after teacher tweets for help. Read About St. Augustine, Florida. There were several people instrumental in saving her, but at least one is still anonymous. St Johns County Emergency Management told local reporters Friday, a trough of low pressure located over the Straits of Florida continues to produce disorganized shower activity and gusty winds across the Florida Keys, portions of southeast Florida, and the northwestern Bahamas. until medics arrived, about five minutes later. These currents may extend 200 to 2,500 feet (61 to 762 meters) lengthwise, but they are typically less than 30 feet (9 meters) wide. At first, Laura Iwanski and her husband, Jeff, weren’t aware that an emergency was building rapidly. Always swim near a lifeguard and remember to heed the advice of the local beach patrol and flag warning systems. Iwanski described the man as average height and heavy-set with thinning hair and a hairy chest. “Just looking at the color on [the unconscious woman’s] face, we both went into ‘nurse’ mode,” Swilley said. On days with surf, the St Augustine surf zone is very, very broad, though it seems rip currents are rare. Kelly was in the water with her 14-year-old son Ty and 12-year-old Gia Iwanski, when the current began pulling them out toward the sea. Gradual development of this system is expected, and it will likely become a tropical or subtropical storm on Saturday when it is located near the northwestern Bahamas. 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