Stormy Surf Drowning Toll Increases to 9
The drowning toll from a weekend of stormy weather that churned surf along the Florida Panhandle rose from six to nine.
Two other swimmers remained hospitalized, one on life support and the other in fair condition, said Walton County sheriff’s spokesman Dennis Wise in Pensacola.
Officials said hundreds of people swam despite warnings for them to keep out of the water.
Among the latest deaths was Ken Brindley, 36, of Conway, Ark., officials said. He and another victim, Larry LaMotte, 60, of Atlanta, had tried to rescue LaMotte’s 12-year-old son, who was saved by others.
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