Lifeguards continue to urge beachgoers to stay safe from rip currents

Lifeguards are urging people to stay out of the ocean again on Wednesday.

They said there are life-threatening rip currents in the water.

Rob Emahiser, captain of Ocean Rescue Lifeguards in Jacksonville Beach, said this isn’t the time for people to take their warnings lightly.

"If you want to be alive and not be in the hospital, then you really should take our advice," Emahiser said. "There’s no other nice way to say it. Sometimes our guys have to be assertive on the beach and sometimes we have to say it in a way that people get it."

On Tuesday, lifeguards rescued eight people from the water and took three swimmers to the hospital.

Action News Jax was there when crews tried to revive an Illinois man who lost his life after the current pulled him underwater on Saturday.

"We really beg everyone to take our advice and listen to the warnings," Emahiser said. "Just please use caution."

Even though the weather at the beaches seems beautiful, it’s actually creating deadly rip currents in the water.

“Something pulls you in and there isn’t much you can do about it," said resident Phillip Bergman about rip currents. "You give up your ability to take control of the situation.”

Lifeguards said none of the local beaches have lifeguards patrolling the water. Beachgoers are advised to swim in front of the lifeguard station at Jacksonville Beach while swimming in the water. A few guards will be there in case of an emergency.

Cox Media Group