[nagdu] More than 100 rescued from Pennsicola beaches in past 3 days

[Steven Johnson]

        An article I found sad, but interesting nonetheless...



Lifeguards at Pensacola Beach rescued more than 100 people from the Gulf 
over the past three days.

But lifeguards were unable to save the life of one man who died after being 
pulled from Little Sabine Bay on Wednesday.

John Blanchard, 46, of Brookline, Mass., was legally blind. His seeing-eye 
dog was swimming around him when someone in a condo noticed he was having 
trouble and called 911, Escambia County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Mike 
Ward said.

Two bystanders and a deputy went out into the water and pulled Blanchard to 
shore, Ward said.

CPR was performed on Blanchard and he was taken by helicopter to a local 
hospial where he was pronounced dead.

"All indications are that it is an accidental drowning," Ward said.

Yellow flag conditions with moderate surf conditions and variable winds are 
forecast for today. The surf is expected to build this weekend and 
lifeguards are urging swimmers to exercise caution, according to the 
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards website.

It's been a busy week for Pensacola Beach lifeguards, who reported making 
102 rescues between Tuesday and Thursday. Lifeguards made 23 rescues on 
Tuesday, 51 on Wednesday and 28 rescues on Thursday.

The beach has been packed with visitors this week. Families and students are 
here visiting for spring break. Santa Rosa County School District students 
also are on spring break this week.

"This place looked like summer out here Wednesday," said Bob West, the 
beach's public safety director.

Escambia County School District students will be on spring break next week.

West said it is not uncommon for lifeguards to be busy this time of year 
because there are a lot of out-of-towners on the beach who can't handle the 
surf conditions.

As moderate-sized waves crashed on Casino Beach Thursday afternoon, some 
people played in the water while others relaxed on the beach on towels and 
in tents.

Sarah Yarbrough, 24, of Nacogdoches, Texas, got in the water with her boogie 
board on Thursday for about 10 minutes. She said the waves at Pensacola 
Beach are a lot stronger than what she is used to navigating.