Rip Currents Claim 3 Swimmers At Texas Beaches

GALVESTON, TX — A strong rip current is believed to have claimed the lives of two swimmers at Galveston area beaches and another swimmer at Matagorda Beach this weekend, officials said.

Galveston Beach Patrol recovered the body of 29-year-old Jose “Abel” Hernandez, who went underwater at San Luis Pass at the southern tip of Galveston Island.

Hernandez was at the beach with friends Saturday and early Sunday morning, when friends said they saw him going into the water at about 1:30 a.m. and lost sight of him. His body was recovered at about 8 a.m.

On Sunday, 16-year-old Joseph Thomas of Spring was at Matagorda Beach with his family when he drowned after being caught in a dangerous rip current.

His father James, said his son was able to help a young girl to short before he was pulled under. The teens body was recovered Monday evening on Matagorda Beach.

A few hours after Thomas disappeared, a 17-year-old teen disappeared while swimming about 150 yards offshore at Surfside Beach in Freeport. His body was recovered Tuesday afternoon but his identity has not been released, officials said.

Both Thomas and the 17-year-old swimmer were reportedly strong swimmers in the pool, but that does not always translate to the ocean, according to a KPRC report.

The Galveston County Beach Patrol issued a red flag warning for much of the weekend because of the dangerous rip currents, warning even strong swimmers to stay in shallow waters that didn’t go above the waist.

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