NWS Melbourne Rip Current Drownings

Rip Current Drownings in East Central Florida
**NOT OFFICIAL**
(data taken from newspaper and other media sources¹)
(updated thru 03/31/2023)

Rip Current Victim Data

	Volusia	Brevard ²	Indian River	St. Lucie	Martin	ECFL Total	ECFL Avg./year
1987	n/a	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
1988	n/a	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
1989	2	1	0	0	0	3	3.0
1990	10	2	1	0	0	13	8.0
1991	4	3	0	0	1	8	8.0
1992	3	0	0	0	0	3	6.8
1993	2	2	0	0	0	4	6.2
1994	3	1	0	0	2	6	6.2
1995	2	0	0	1	0	3	5.7
1996	0	2	0	0	0	2	5.3
1997	3	0	0	0	0	3	5.0
1998	0	0	1	1	0	2	4.7
1999	3	0	0	0	0	3	4.5
2000	4	0	0	0	0	4	4.5
2001	2	0	0	0	0	2	4.3
2002	0	0	0	0	0	0	4.0
2003	1	0	0	0	0	1	3.8
2004	2	2	0	0	0	4	3.8
2005	1	2	0	0	0	3	3.8
2006	3	0	1	0	0	4	3.8
2007	2	5 ³	1	0	0	8	4.0
2008	3	2	0	0	1	6	4.1
2009	3	1	0	0	0	4	4.1
2010	1	1	0	0	0	2	4.0
2011	1	1	0	1	1	4	4.0
2012	1	1	0	0	0	2	3.9
2013	2	1	1	0	0	4	3.9
2014	0	3	0	0	0	3	3.9
2015	5	2	1	0	0	8	4.0
2016	2	2	0	0	0	4	4.0
2017	4	2	1	0	1	8	4.2
2018	3	2				5	4.2
2019	4	3	1	0	1	9
2020	5	0	0	1	1	7
2021	3	6	0	0	0	9
2022	7	3	0	0	0	10
2023 (through 3/31)	0	5	0	0	0	5
Total (since 1987)	90	57 (43 through 1987)	8	4	8	167

¹ Some reported drownings were not counted as being rip current related since rough, dangerous surf conditions or strong longshore currents were the more likely cause.
² medical examiner data reviewed
³ 10 drownings were reported by Brevard County Ocean Rescue in 2007, but several were not likely directly due to rip currents as some of the victims were weak swimmers, had alcohol/physical/mental issues and one was due to rough surf.