Debby may be gone, but Bay area beaches are still feeling the after effects.

Officials at area beaches are warning beachgoers to be aware of rip currents brought on by Debby. Especially after Wednesday's dramatic rescue of eight people off St. Pete Beach, five of whom came from a single family.

A family of five was rescued from the water off St. Pete Beach and rushed to local hospitals around 2:30 p.m. after getting caught in a rip current. One of those people later died.

As the family began to struggle to swim, three good Samaritans jumped on boogie boards and swam to the family.

One good Samaritan told Bay News 9 he and two others reached the family near a buoy. Keith Arbuckle said he rescued one man who was "barely conscious" when he got him back to shore.

Arbuckle said he went back and rescued a woman who appeared to be in her 40s. He said she was unresponsive from the time he got to her. He said it took roughly 15 minutes to get back to her and get back to shore.

The family's rescue occurred at 20th Avenue and Gulf Way. Officials said the family was visiting from Alabama.

In all, three victims were transported to Palms of Pasadena Hospital, one to All Children’s Hospital and one to Bayfront Medical Center.

One of the hospitalized, a 41-year-old woman, died late Wednesday night.

More on rip currents


A rip current is a narrow, powerful current of water running perpendicular to the beach, out into the ocean.

Rip currents move along the surface of the water, pulling you straight out into the ocean, but not underneath the water's surface. A rip current may knock you off your feet in shallow water, however, and if you thrash around and get disoriented, you may end up being pulled along the ocean bottom. But if you relax your body, the current should keep you near the surface.

On Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service issued a beach hazard advisory for high rip currents in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, warning beachgoers of dangerous swimming conditions.