Drowning experts are hopeful the public can learn from late actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner‘s untimely death.
“If you get caught in a rip current number one is: don’t panic. Allow the rip current to take you offshore until it weakens,” Dr. John R. Fletemeyer, a 30-year aquatics professional focused on drowning research and the development of drowning prevention education programs, exclusively tells Us Weekly.
Fletemeyer cites current research from James McMahan, a coastal scientist based in California, adding that he recommends people “just let the current take you out.”
“Based on his research, I think it’s probably good advice,” Fletemeyer tells Us. “The other advice that you see, on every beach, is that if you get caught in a rip current, don’t panic, allow the current to take you offshore until it weakens, then swim in either direction, parallel to the shore, and then swim back to shore.”
Andrew Schmidt, DO, MPH, associate professor of Emergency Medicine at University of Florida, Jacksonville, and director of Lifeguards Without Borders, notes that there are “a couple different kinds of rip currents,” but they can generally be described as “a current of water that essentially is pulling away from the shore.”
“Obviously, this causes panic and danger and safety issues with swimmers, because … suddenly they realize they can’t get back to shore,” Schmidt tells Us. “And often, if they don’t know what a recurrent looks like or they haven’t spent time on that beach looking out before they get in the water, they aren’t sure why they can’t swim back.”
According to Schmidt, the most important thing for swimmers is “educating yourself” on rip currents and how to maneuver through them. Lifeguards or other locals at the beach can also be a helpful resource.
“Walk up and [say], ‘Hey, I don’t swim here much. What are some areas I wanna avoid?’” Schmidt adds. “Especially a lifeguard, [ask them], ‘Hey, what are some bad rips you guys have?’”
Schmidt says knowing how to recognize a rip current is the first step to knowing whether it’s safe to be in the water at all. He also advises swimming with a lifeguard in sight, if possible.
“If you can’t swim with a lifeguard … having someone who knows you’re in the water [is important],” Schmidt says, noting that the person on the beach can be available to get help if needed.
The Costa Rica Red Cross confirmed to Us on July 21 that emergency personnel attended to two adult male patients on a beach after they were caught by a high current in the water.
One man was transported in critical condition to the local clinic, while CPR was performed on the second man — Warner — at the scene. The Cosby Show alum was pronounced dead shortly after. He was 54.
The other individual was later discharged, according to local authorities.
Elberth León, Chief of the Tourist Police of the Atlantic Region, exclusively told Us that at the time of the incident, both Warner and his daughter — who has never been publicly named — were both in the water when they were “dragged by the current.” The late actor died trying to save his daughter, according to León.
“They were bathing together and were caught by a rip current,” he said. “Obviously, as a father, he fought for his daughter, but the current in that area is very strong, and they couldn’t accomplish the objective.”
He continued, “Two people who were there at the location went in with a surfboard and a boogie board to help rescue the people who were caught in the current. They managed to stay with the girl, managed to get her onto the board, but due to the strength of the current, one of them, from Nicaragua, had to let go of the board and push it toward the shore so the girl could make it to land or the coast.”
Fletemeyer told Us that — despite people understandably wanting to aid a stranger or loved one – it is not recommended to enter the water in an attempt to save someone else.
“Absolutely not,” he said. “I’ve looked at more than a thousand rip drownings and in many tragic cases, a good samaritan, a bystander, will jump in to try to rescue the person in the rip current — and they will end up being a victim as well.”
As Us previously reported, the area where Malcolm accidentally drowned is known for its strong currents.
Fletemeyer — who has visited the area and describes Limon in particular as being “notorious for being dangerous” — says “a lot of areas in Costa Rica are dangerous to tourists.”
“Costa Rica has [some] beaches [that are] very similar to California beaches — they’re high energy beaches, meaning there are large waves that impact the shoreline,” he adds. “Rip currents are pervasive. They are found on any ocean beach – we call them surf beaches.”
According to Fletemeyer, there are over 100 drowning deaths due to rip currents each year in the United States alone. Anywhere from 80 to 95 percent of all rescues made by lifeguards patrolling California beaches alone are made as a result of a victim being caught in a rip current.
“California lifeguards, each year, perform tens of thousands of rescues,” he adds. “I’m in the Florida area, and lifeguards in Florida perform thousands of rescues, and 90 to 90 percent of those rescues are the consequence or the result of a victim caught in a rip current.”
A lack of funds contributed to the absence of a certified lifeguard at the time of Malcolm’s death, despite the area’s known dangers.
“Due to recent aquatic incidents in Playa Negra, we had redirected resources there and to Chiquita, another iconic beach known for its strong currents,” a July 21 statement from the Caribbean Guard, Costa Rica’s volunteer lifeguard association read. “From Caribbean Guard, a volunteer lifeguard association, we make an urgent appeal to the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca, and the entire Caribbean community to continue joining forces to minimize this problem, which, sadly, is on the rise ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.”
“The mistake is with the government,” Fletemeyer says. “In Costa Rica, they hang their hat on their beautiful beaches – the eco-tourism — yet they’re not willing to make the investment.”
He continued, “Without that investment, people are basically gonna go out and have no clue or no indication that they’re putting themselves in extreme danger — their families in incredibly dangerous situations.”
Schmidt adds that “there’s no question” the presence of trained lifeguards can “drastically decrease” drowning incidents. He says being familiar with your surroundings — including signs, emergency services, nearby hospitals and more — is another step that can be taken.
“Just having those things in the back of your mind — no matter where you, where you go — can drastically decrease your chances [of something going wrong],” Schmidt tells Us.
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