7-year-old rescued from rip current, but teen is swept away, Texas officials say
A 7-year-old and 14-year-old were playing in the water when a rip current swept them away, killing one, Texas officials said.
The 7-year-old was rescued and taken to the hospital, but the teen was no longer visible by the time rescuers arrived at the South Padre Island beach at 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, May 19, the Cameron County Park Ranger Division said.
The teen’s disappearance sparked an hourslong search involving the Coast Guard, fire departments and park rangers, officials said.
Anllelith Solis’ body washed up on the shoreline about 2 miles from where she was first swept away, officials said. The 14-year-old’s body was found at 11 p.m.
The teen from Harlingen was an 8th grade student on vacation with her family, according to a statement from Arely Tamez, a Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District principal, according to CBS4.
“Our hearts are broken,” the statement read. “Every one of our children are cared for and loved as our own family, and today, and the days and weeks that follow, will be tough for all those who knew her.”
Harlingen is about a 250-mile drive south of San Antonio, near the U.S.-Mexico border.
What is a rip current?
Rip currents are “powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water” that happen on the coasts of the U.S. and in the Great Lakes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
About 100 people are killed by rip currents each year in the U.S., NOAA reported. Lifeguards rescue thousands of people from rip currents annually.
Experts say people can take steps to stay safe from rip currents, including:
Check the local water conditions before getting in.
Talk to a lifeguard at the beach about the conditions.
Only swim at beaches where lifeguards are present.
Don’t assume great weather means good swimming conditions.
This story was originally published May 22, 2024 at 10:11 AM with the headline "7-year-old rescued from rip current, but teen is swept away, Texas officials say."
