A sad event happened in Florida recently. Brian Warter, who was 51 years old, and Erica Wishart, who was 48, were on vacation there with their six children. They were swimming with two of their teenagers at Hutchinson Island on June 20th when something dangerous happened.
There was a strong current in the ocean, and Brian and Erica got caught in it. Even though their teenage children tried to save them, the current was too powerful. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office shared that the teenagers did everything they could to help their parents. Rescuers came quickly to try to save Brian and Erica, but despite efforts, they couldn’t be saved.
It’s a heartbreaking story of a family vacation turning into a tragedy.
Phillyburbs.com said the water was really dangerous that Tuesday afternoon. Martin County Fire Rescue representative Cory Pippen explained that red flags were up at the beach. These flags warn swimmers about strong rip currents in the water. Rip currents can be very dangerous because they pull swimmers away from the shore.
Larry Warter, who is Brian’s father, spoke to CBS 12 News. He shared that Brian and Erica had been together for more than a year and were going to get married. Erica had four children, and Brian had two. They wanted to wait until all their kids finished college before getting married. Their trip to Stuart, Florida, was a big deal for them.
“They were so excited about going down there,” Larry Warter said. “This was the first time. This was the experiment. They had all six of their kids together. They had been planning it for over a month.”
Brian Warter’s parents have shared how much they loved the couple. Larry Warter said, “You could tell just by being around them.” He talked about the strong love between Brian and Erica. Susie Warter, Brian’s mother, added that everyone who knew them loved them too, and everyone was excited about their future together.
The Warter family has been supported a lot by their community. Larry Warter said, “We’ve been amazed by all the help and support. We thought we were dealing with this alone, but we haven’t been.”
On a fundraising page, Wayne Sallurday wrote a beautiful tribute to Erica. He said, “Erica was an amazing person. She was a loving mother to two sons and two daughters, with her youngest son adopted when he was young.” The post also said Erica worked at an elementary school helping special needs children and later worked in the school library. She also spent a lot of time helping at her church. “We could keep talking about her, but you probably understand now. She was one of the nicest people you could ever meet.”
The GoFundMe page set up to remember them has raised over $60,000. This shows how generous the community has been in response to this sad event.
The National Weather Service has important advice on its website about rip currents. It explains that rip currents don’t pull swimmers underwater, but they can tire swimmers out quickly. It’s really important to stay calm.
The website says, “If you try to swim against a rip current, you’ll waste your energy. You need that energy to stay safe and get out of the rip current. Don’t try to swim straight to the shore. Instead, swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current’s pull. Once you’re free, swim towards the shore at an angle away from the current.”
The National Weather Service also suggests never swimming alone and following the rule, “If you’re not sure, don’t go in!”
This sad event reminds us how dangerous rip currents can be. It’s crucial to listen to safety advice when swimming.
The cause of John Amos’ death has been confirmed.
October 2024 has already been a tough month. As soon as the month, loved by Halloween fans, started, there was a lot of sad news. Broadway fans learned that two stars, Ken Page and Gavin Creel, had passed away, and just hours later, more heartbreak came with reports of John Amos’ death.
The month of October started off with a lot of sad news, leaving fans in shock. Just days after Dame Maggie Smith passed away, news of three heartbreaking deaths followed. John Amos’ death was especially upsetting for many fans, as he had long been seen as America’s “TV dad” from Good Times.
John Amos was 84 when he passed away on October 1st. He was still active in his acting career, with his last role in the 2023 film The Last Rifleman. No one knew he had any health problems, so his death came as a big shock, leaving people wondering what caused the loss of this legendary actor.
How did John Amos die?
Even if you’re not a fan of Good Times, the 1970s show that made Amos famous, or if you haven’t seen Roots, where he played Toby/Kunta Kinte, don’t worry — you’ve probably seen him in something else. If you’re like me, you might remember him from Die Hard 2: Die Harder, which is the second movie in the Die Hard series. But more likely, you recognize him from one of his classic TV shows.
He often appeared on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and also made guest appearances on popular shows like The New Dick Van Dyke Show and The Bill Cosby Show. His first big movie role was in 1973’s The World’s Greatest Athlete. After that, he appeared in many beloved films and shows, including Coming to America, Dr. Doolittle, Die Hard, and Madea.
Even though he often played supporting roles, Amos received many nominations and awards, including an Emmy nomination for Roots. In 2020, he was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. His legacy will live on, which is comforting for fans who are heartbroken over his unexpected death.
While his death was surprising, it doesn’t seem like it was caused by an accident or injury. He wasn’t dealing with any hidden illness, like some stars do — he passed away from natural causes.
Amos’ son, Kelly Christopher Amos, confirmed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his father passed away on August 21, 2024, though the news wasn’t shared until more than a month later. He described his father as “a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold” and said he was loved by people all over the world. “Many fans saw him as their TV father,” he added. “He lived a good life, and his legacy will continue through his amazing work in TV and film.”
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