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.
MY HUSBAND LEFT ME WITH KIDS AND ALL THIS HEAVY LUGGAGE TO GET HOME ON MY OWN WHILE HE HUNG OUT WITH FRIENDS – THE LESSON I TAUGHT HIM WAS HARSH.
The roar of the airplane engines faded into the background as I stepped off the plane, two tired toddlers clinging to my legs. I scanned the crowd, expecting to see Tom, my husband, his familiar smile a welcome sight after a long flight. But he wasn’t there.
I called him, my heart sinking with each unanswered ring. Finally, he picked up, his voice casual, almost breezy. “Hey, honey! How was the flight?”
“Where are you?” I asked, my voice tight. “You were supposed to pick us up.”
“Oh, right!” he said, a hint of sheepishness in his tone. “Mike called. He’s in town, and we decided to grab a drink. Just for a few hours. You can manage, right?”
“Manage?” I repeated, my voice rising. “Tom, I have two toddlers, a stroller, and three heavy suitcases. I can’t ‘just manage’!”
“Come on, it’s just for a few hours. You can manage,” he replied again, dismissing my concerns with a wave of his voice.
I hung up, my anger a burning ember in my chest. He had abandoned me, his family, for a few hours of drinks with a friend. I felt a surge of resentment, a feeling that had been simmering for years, now boiling over.
The next few hours were a blur of chaos. I struggled to wrangle the kids, their tired whines echoing through the airport. I wrestled the stroller, a monstrous contraption designed to fold with the dexterity of a Rubik’s Cube, and lugged the suitcases, each one a testament to the sheer volume of “essential” items toddlers require.
By the time I finally made it home, I was exhausted, my body aching, my patience frayed. But as I collapsed onto the couch, a plan began to form in my mind. Tom had underestimated me. He had assumed I would simply accept his dismissive attitude, his blatant disregard for my time and effort. He was wrong.
The next day, I woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. I packed a small bag, kissed the kids goodbye, and left a note on the kitchen table.
“Gone to visit a friend. Will be back when I feel like it. You can manage, right?”
I drove to a nearby spa, a place I had always wanted to visit but never had the time or money for. I spent the day indulging in massages, facials, and manicures, reveling in the quiet solitude.
I turned off my phone, ignoring the barrage of calls and texts from Tom. I wanted him to experience what I had experienced: the feeling of being abandoned, of being taken for granted.
The next day, I went shopping, buying myself a new outfit, a pair of designer shoes, and a luxurious handbag. I spent the evening at a fancy restaurant, savoring a delicious meal and a glass of wine.
I returned home late that night, to find Tom pacing the living room, his face etched with worry. The kids were asleep, the house a mess.
“Where have you been?” he demanded, his voice laced with anxiety.
“Out,” I replied, my voice cool.
“Out? All day? All night?”
“Yes,” I said, “I needed some time to myself.”
“But… but the kids,” he stammered. “I didn’t know what to do.”
“You managed,” I said, a hint of sarcasm in my voice.
He looked at me, his eyes filled with confusion and a dawning realization. “You… you did this on purpose.”
“Yes, Tom,” I said, “I did. I wanted you to understand what it feels like to be left alone, to be taken for granted.”
He looked down at his feet, shamefaced. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I didn’t think…”
“That’s the problem, Tom,” I said, my voice soft but firm. “You didn’t think. You assumed I would always be there, always manage, no matter what.”
He nodded, his eyes filled with remorse. “I understand,” he said. “I won’t do it again.”
I looked at him, searching his eyes for sincerity. I saw genuine regret, a flicker of understanding.
“Good,” I said. “Because I won’t tolerate it again.”
From that day on, Tom was a changed man. He became more attentive, more considerate, more appreciative of my time and effort. He learned that partnership meant sharing the load, not dumping it all on one person.
And I learned that sometimes, a little bit of payback can go a long way in teaching a valuable lesson.
Leave a Reply