Lately, riptides have become a big problem in the Gulf Coast. According to CNN, eleven people have died due to rip currents in just two weeks in various areas along the Gulf Coast, including Fort Morgan, Alabama, and Panama City Beach, Florida. Although rip currents won’t pull you under the water, they will pull you away from the shore. So, when news broke of Ryan Mallett’s tragic drowning in Florida, many considered that riptides could have played a part in his death.
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However, authorities have revealed that there was “no indication” that riptides in the Destin area affected the former quarterback’s drowning, per TMZ. Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden shared, “We were under a yellow flag, which is a ‘just swim with caution.’ It just seems to be just a tragic accident and not something to do with the conditions of the surf or tides or currents.” Sheriff Aden later confirmed that the conditions didn’t have anything to do with the football star’s death as he wrote in a statement, “There were no indications of any ‘riptides.'” Many have been confused with the recent information provided by authorities, because it seems as though Mallett should have been able to recover in the absence of treacherous waters.
