A Florida beach vacation turned tragic on Wednesday when a Maine father drowned after pulling two of his children from a rip current in Juno Beach. Ryan Jennings, 46, managed to get his kids to safety, but he did not survive. His wife, Emily, who is pregnant with their fourth child, is still in Florida as friends, neighbors and complete strangers scramble to support the family from hundreds of miles away.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue's Ocean Rescue team responded around 3:30 p.m., bringing four people to shore and taking three of them to nearby hospitals, according to WPBF. Officials said the family had been swimming outside a guarded area when two children were suddenly pulled out by the surf. An off‑duty PBCFR crew member also jumped in to help, according to the station.
How the Rescue Unfolded
Jennings fought the current long enough to get both children clear of danger, according to the Portland Press Herald. The paper reported that he lifted his daughter above his head and pushed his son toward shore while the rip current dragged them away from the beach. "He made sure they made it out alive," Emily Jennings told the paper, which described the family’s life in North Yarmouth and noted that Ryan coached youth sports. The family had been visiting Ryan’s parents in South Florida when the incident occurred.
Support for the Family
In the days since, the community response has been swift and emotional. Family friend Geraldine Ollila launched a fundraiser to help Emily and the children; the campaign had collected about $92,000 from nearly 600 donors, according to the family’s GoFundMe. Friends in both Maine and Florida have been lining up to offer help in person and online, WMTW reported. Organizers are working on funeral arrangements and helping cover immediate living expenses as the family navigates life after the loss.
Beach Conditions and Official Response
Local officials said the rescue happened during low tide with onshore winds that encourage rip‑current formation, and noted that the family was outside a lifeguarded area, according to the Portland Press Herald. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue stresses that choosing lifeguarded beaches and prioritizing preventive lifeguarding can significantly cut the risk of rip‑current incidents; its Ocean Rescue page lists Juno Beach among the locations monitored by trained staff. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue also notes that professional lifeguards are trained to spot dangerous water conditions before swimmers ever step into the surf.
Rip‑Current Safety Tips
Public‑safety officials say the most important thing if you are caught in a rip current is not to panic. Swimmers are advised to relax, float or tread water and then swim parallel to the shore until they escape the pull of the current; if you cannot break free, you should wave and call for help, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS also recommends sticking to areas near lifeguards and checking local beach forecasts before heading into the water.
