lifeguards searching at Seaside

**bluemtnrunner** · 06-05-2012, 06:36 PM

We have been watching the lifeguards searching the water off seaside in search of a lost person. It has been about an hour with no luck. Jet ski out now too.

**lauralbardin** · 06-05-2012, 06:53 PM

Oh no- not good-

**bluemtnrunner** · 06-05-2012, 07:10 PM

They are still searching. Lifeguards have not stopped this whole time. Two boys of about 20 lost their friend in the waves.

**leia2** · 06-05-2012, 07:12 PM

Unfortunately they are trying to recover his body.

**jnealy** · 06-05-2012, 07:15 PM

We are sitting on our deck in Seagrove and just saw the wave runner over here. Praying for a happy ending, but this doesn't look good. So sad.

**bluemtnrunner** · 06-05-2012, 08:16 PM

Search called off, lifeguards off the beach. I spoke with the chief lifeguard and asked that he pass on to the guards our deep appreciation and respect for their efforts. They remained in the water searching, running back up the beach and starting again and again. While the outcome is tragic, their efforts were heroic.

**Kirkus** · 06-05-2012, 08:21 PM

Very rough surf tonight - heroic work indeed. Pray for the comfort of the family.

**kurt** · 06-06-2012, 06:11 AM

Thank you for the updates. Very sad.

**gib ycnan** · 06-06-2012, 07:17 AM

The surf was rough. The swimmers looking were really working hard. Why wasn't there helicopters out there?

**lauralbardin** · 06-06-2012, 07:31 AM

Any news if they found him?

**miznotebook** · 06-06-2012, 10:08 AM

From South Walton Fire District this morning: SWFD continues the coordinated search efforts for yesterday's missing swimmer along with WCSO. Swimmers should stay out of the gulf as the area is still experiencing Red Flag conditions. As a reminder, "if you don't know, don't go" and always obey the current beach flag warning system. Please visit our website swfd.org or follow us on facebook and twitter for daily beach flag conditions. More info to follow as it becomes available.

**miznotebook** · 06-06-2012, 10:19 AM

From Walton County Sheriff's Office this morning: At approximately 5:33 PM on June 5, 2012 the Walton County Sheriff's Office received a report of a young black male that entered the Gulf Of Mexico in the Seaside area and did not return to shore. The male subject missing has been identified as 18 year old Yafet A. Yaseph who had been visiting the area with friends who all were from Tennessee. At the time this occurred red flags were flying. Currently the Walton County Sheriff's Office along with the Coast Guard have been searching the area for the subject since his disappearance, and are still actively searching at this time.

**Franny** · 06-06-2012, 10:40 AM

Very very sad. There should be double red flags.

**mom of zoro** · 06-06-2012, 12:38 PM

There are double red flags at times, but it doesn't stop people from doing what they want to do. Even with locals sharing warnings with visitors, people do what they want to do. My family doesn't go in during red flags or even yellow flags. Very sad day.

**Beach Runner** · 06-06-2012, 01:13 PM

Oh, that's so sad. His family must be going crazy. Prayers --> them.

**beasmiester** · 06-06-2012, 01:23 PM

We heard there was a drowning around 1:30 yesterday in the Seacrest area. Anyone heard anything on that? I certainly hope it's not true!

**seagrovegirl** · 06-06-2012, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by gib ycnan

The surf was rough. The swimmers looking were really working hard. Why wasn't there helicopters out there?

The Coast Guard had a helicopter out there.

**bluemtnrunner** · 06-06-2012, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by seagrovegirl

The Coast Guard had a helicopter out there.

We were out there from watching from about 5:40-8:00 at the spot where the boy had last been seen and where his friends waited with the deputies and never saw a helicopter. The jet ski did not arrive until about 6:30 or 7:00. No boats, no helicopters only the lifeguards swimming in the water. Three of whom were on the scene when we got there and then five more (I believe) who literally ran from their posts to join in the search. SWFD remained on the gazebo searching with binoculars. One Coastie showed up just before the lifeguards came in from the water.

**kurt** · 06-06-2012, 03:11 PM

We are very sad to hear about this tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with the family. We urge everyone to use extreme caution in the surf. Thanks to the efforts of everyone involved. For more information on beach safety, please visit this page.

Some facts passed on to me:

SWFD and the SWFD Lifeguards were involved in the search.

We had 11 SWFD Lifeguards that physically entered the water and conducted a grid search for this swimmer.

A lone coast guard rep arrived to the command post. Not positive if they were ever in the water or air.

The beach where the swimmer entered the water was a non guarded beach. It was a private beach ( Seaside) .

The swimmer entered the water directly in front of the Red Flag post for this area.

The surf conditions yesterday were red flag and not double red.

The flag conditions today are red flag and not double red.

**Franny** · 06-06-2012, 04:47 PM

Thanks Kurt! Good information to share.

**miznotebook** · 06-06-2012, 05:41 PM

Tragic news. From Walton County Sheriff's Office: The deceased body of Yafet A. Yaseph has been located. He was located on the shoreline in the Seagrove area. There is no other information at this time.

**JoBu** · 06-07-2012, 10:50 AM

After learning that Yafet was deaf, i did some searching and found that he attended the Tennessee School for the Deaf (Knoxville) and was very involved in sports including basketball, football and track\field. I'm assuming he was in very good athletic shape. He was born in Ethiopia. A friend of mine now in Seaside said the two guys who made it to shore had to 'sign' to get people to call 911, so they may have been his school mates.

While searching i also ran across a few websites listing Berhanu (male) and Wubit (female) Yosepf as East African Baptist missionaries currently living in Ethiopia, but the sponsor church is in Jefferson City, TN. The website states: "BIO (Baptist International Outreach) was organized in 1985 for the purpose of opening countries closed to the Gospel by means of deaf education and other symbiotic methods that do not violate Biblical principles”. I see the spelling of the last name is slightly different, but there seems to be the possibility for a connection.

**ThirtyAGal** · 06-08-2012, 01:15 PM

Don't know about the above but the victim did live at TN School for the Deaf in Knoxville. His parents live in Clarksville, TN, but the school is a live-in situation for all the students. He was an incredible football player and all around "good" young man. Would have graduated next spring. So sorry for the friends and family.