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Story printed in the Pennsicola News Journal - 4/4/00 HEADLINE: Rough Gulf costs another man his life - Stormy weather increases risk of riptides By Emily Roach An Alabama man drowned in rough seas Monday off Pensacola Beach. Thomas Robert Johnson, 29, of Mobile was swimming in the Gulf with three friends Monday afternoon when they were caught in heavy surf just before 4 p.m., said Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Tony Bain. Pensacola Beach firefighters pulled the four from the water and transported them to Gulf Breeze Hospital where Johnson, who was in the residency program at USA Medical Center, was pronounced dead about an hour later, Bain said. Johnson's death was the second Gulf drowning in four days. On Friday, David Eugene Scruggs, 42, of Decatur, Ala., died after getting caught in a riptide off Navarre Beach. For the past several days, many swimmers have found themselves caught in riptides or an undertow. Local beach officials warn that Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach are dangerous right now, with incoming and outgoing storms causing potentially lethal underwater currents. People, especially tourists, don't understand beach conditions, said Pensacola Beach firefighter Joey Jasionowski. Fellow firefighter Lt. John Houk said people see the sun and others swimming and think the water's safe. ``You could have a flat day out there and have an undertow,'' Jasionowski said. But Monday, turbulent weather was causing riptides and an undertow, he said. At least six swimmers at Pensacola Beach have gone to the hospital since Friday after near drownings. Roger Blaylock, who oversees Navarre Beach for Santa Rosa County, said red warning flags were flying again Monday and would be whenever conditions appeared dangerous. The Santa Rosa Island Authority will have weekend lifeguards out Saturday, but the warning system isn't being used yet this year. But the danger of drownings has increased as warmer weather brings people to the beach. Riptides, which can occur anytime, are caused when two opposing currents meet, setting up a swirling action that can quickly carry swimmers away from shore. Swimmers often get pulled under and panic. Pensacola Beach assistant fire chief Chad Sims said the fire department has gotten repeated rescue calls to an area at The Beach Club, the Casino Beach area behind the sheriff's substation and a stretch just west of Casino Beach. Visitors sunning and playing on the beach near the Beach Club on Monday said one small area has an obvious dropoff. Scott Leclerc, 15, said the spot was deep. But the Jonesboro, Ga., lifeguard and his friend, John Toro, 16, said the surf wasn't keeping them on dry land. ``It's just more fun for us,'' John said. But another spring breaker, Lisa Lifton, 16, said she and her friends heard the sirens and were being more careful. ``I wasn't going out as far,'' she said. An Indiana woman nearby, Carol Bradshaw, saw rescues Sunday and Monday and said she was ``keeping on eye'' for swimmers in trouble. Escambia County sheriff's Lt. Bob Clark said deputies weren't warning people of the riptide risks unless they ask. He cautioned older people and those with health problems to avoid the Gulf and swim in Santa Rosa Sound.
Story printed in the Alabama Mobile Register - 4/5/00 HEADLINE: Swimming in rip currents 'really taxing on the body,' official says Surgery resident is second Alabamian in 4 days to be victim of Panhandle riptides Thomas Robert Johnson, a second-year surgery resident at the University of South Alabama Medical Center, had rented a beach house and was swimming with three friends off the southeast end of Santa Rosa Island when riptides apparently pulled him under around 4 p.m. Monday, authorities said. His friends swam to help him, but they also foundered in the strong undertow and had to be rescued, according to Pensacola Beach Assistant Fire Chief Chad Sims, who was among the first at the scene. Witnesses said Johnson was under water for about 10 minutes before firefighters reached him, said Lt. John Houk of the Escambia County, Fla., Fire-Rescue Department. Houk said Johnson went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to Gulf Breeze Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 5 p.m. One of the other victims was treated and released, Sims said, and another declined treatment. Johnson, 29, appeared to be "in relatively good shape for his age," Houk said, but that might not have made a difference. Swimming in rip currents is "really taxing on the body," Houk said. "It really doesn't matter what age you are or what kind of shape you're in. "If you're not used to it, if you're not aware of the conditions, then you can become a victim, just like anybody else." Johnson was the second Alabama resident claimed by the Florida Panhandle surf in four days. David E. Scruggs, 42, of Decatur, Ala., drowned Friday off Navarre Beach about 20 miles from where Johnson was swimming. Sims said Tuesday afternoon that Pensacola Beach firefighters responded to 14 near-drownings since Friday, including another case on Navarre Beach around the same time as Johnson's drowning. Two of those people remain in critical condition, he said. The only benefit of big waves are the surfers they draw, who regularly save struggling swimmers, Sims said. "I have never run a near-drowning on a surfer. They're smart ... and they know how to get out of a rip current" by swimming parallel to the beach, he said. Surfers also have something that can be invaluable in surviving high surf and rough currents: a flotation device. Houk said red flags indicating rough tide were not up and no lifeguards were on duty at the time Johnson drowned. But a placard at the foot of the Pensacola Bay Bridge warned weekend visitors to the island that the surf could be dangerous, he said. Officials in Florida and Alabama noted the similarities between the states' northern Gulf coastlines. Conditions are usually similar "all the way from Fort Morgan to Fort Walton," according to Deputy Chief Tim Blakemore of the Gulf Shores Fire Department. About 70 water-rescue personnel, including crews from Pensacola Beach, will attend a three-day conference in Gulf Shores in late April on using personal watercraft in rescue situations. Sims called the water rescue squads in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores "both awesome. They're a lot more specialized than we are." Gulf Shores crews responded to one near-drowning over the weekend. Milton Rittlemeyer, assistant park manager at Gulf State Park, helps determine when tide flags should be flown at the park. He said park supervisors look for wave height, and movement of water that would indicate riptides, but also listen to the surf. "To me the sound of a wave - you can tell how heavy a wave sounds - determines how strong the wave is," he said. Rittlemeyer said the red flags flew at the park all weekend but were not up Tuesday. Swimmers braved the surf anyway, he said. "We can't stop people from getting in the water," Rittlemeyer said. "It's just a physical means of letting people know the water is dangerous and that they shouldn't swim." Dr. Jeff Ryan, 34, worked side by side with Johnson at USAMC. "He was a close personal friend," Ryan said, pausing to compose himself. "His patients loved him. Not just children - everybody." Dr. Randall Powell, a pediatric surgeon, said Johnson was training under him. "I was thinking last night when I heard this that last Friday he was finishing his rotation at (USA) Children's and Women's Hospital ... and he was saying goodbye to all of the personnel on the different floors," Powell said. "The ward clerks, the nurses, and everyone had a kind smile and a wave for him as he was saying goodbye." Powell said Johnson was from Virginia. Arrangements had not been made as of late Tuesday. (Ron Colquitt and the Associated Press contributed to this report.) © 2000 Mobile Register.
Complete obituary posted on Delaware Online - Tuesday, April 11, 2000 Thomas R. Johnson, MD Passed away suddenly from an accidental drowning, on Santa Rosa Beach in Pensacola, FL where he was vacationing on Monday, April 3. He was 29 years old. Thomas was born May 15, 1970 in Alexandria, VA. He is survived by his guardians, Reverend Daniel and Sharon McCready, and their children (considered Thomas' siblings) Jake, Jamie, Jordan and Jenna-Rae McCready, all from Wilmington, DE. Rev. Robert and Pauline McKinney and Sheila McKinney from Wilmington also survive him. His biological father, Thomas Johnson, an uncle, Robert Barchers and Dennis Bross from Cape Coral, FL, survives Thomas. His biological mother, Sondra Gilkerson and a sister, Tonya Jones from Early Branch, SC survives Thomas. He also has a sister, Sherry Beecher from Virginia Beach, VA. Thomas has 2 nephews and 3 nieces. Thomas is also survived by scores of colleagues and friends from all over the country, including his special friend and mentor, Keith Jeffords, MD. Thomas Johnson was a 1988 graduate from Thomas McKean High School in Wilmington, DE. In 1992, he received a Bachelor of Science "magna cum laude" from Lee University, Cleveland, TN. Dr. Johnson received his medical degree in 1998 from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA. He was continuing his postgraduate medical training in General Surgery at the University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL. Dr. Johnson was the recipient of many awards. He attended Lee University on full academic scholarship. While at Lee, Dr. Johnson was elected into the membership of Alpha Chi National Honor Society (serving as Vice President), Alpha Phi Delta Premedical Honor Society (serving as President) and Kappa Gamma Pi Science Honor Society. He was elected to "Who's Who Among Students" in American Colleges and Universities in 1992. He received the Tennessee Institute of Chemists Award in 1992. He was particularly proud of his induction into Upsilon XI Fraternity in 1989. Dr. Johnson held several offices including induction chairman and was the first Senior Member office holder. After graduation from Lee University, Thomas continued his participation with Upsilon XI. Several memorials have been established to remember Dr. Johnson's contagious "love of life" and generous service to others. The brothers of Upsilon XI have established a scholarship fund in Dr. Johnson's name to remember the contributions he made to their organization. Financial contributions can be sent to: The Thomas Johnson, MD Scholarship Fund, Lee University, P.O. Box 3450, Cleveland, TN 37320-3450. Additionally, the University of South Alabama Department of Surgery has established the "Thomas Johnson, MD Award" to be given annually for outstanding performance by a surgery resident. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either of these 2 most prestigious memorial funds. Services will be held at MCCRERY FUNERAL HOME, 3710 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE. Friends and family are invited to attend the viewing Tuesday, April 11 from 7-9 p.m. The services will be held Wednesday, April 12 at 11 a.m. |