Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
- Marine Unit

St. Pete Beach Fire Department

James Tate (Swimmer- Uninjured)
DOB: 10/14/1960
Address Pennsylvania

Lisa Tate (Swimmer – Uninjured)
DOB: 1/9/1982
Address: Pennsylvania

Lewis Mazzone (Swimmer- Uninjured)
DOB: 6/28/1981
Address: Wesley Chapel

Lonnie Fuchs (Swimmer – Injured)
DOB: 09/13/1970
Address: Indiana

Unidentified adult female (Swimmer- Uninjured)

What:
Pinellas deputies assisted with a water rescue after five swimmers and three fireman were caught in a rip current on St. Pete Beach.

When:
The incident occurred at about 11:37 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2019.

Where:
The incident occurred in the Gulf of Mexico behind 4700 Gulf Boulevard in St. Pete Beach.

Why/How:
Pinellas deputies assisted with a water rescue after five swimmers and three fireman were caught in a rip current on St. Pete Beach.  

At about 11:37 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2019, deputies were called to the beach behind 4700 Gulf Boulevard in St. Pete Beach, for several swimmers who were struggling to swim back to shore due to the strong current.

When deputies arrived, they observed four swimmers 58-year-old James Tate, 37-year-old Lisa Tate, 38-year-old Lewis Mazzone, and an unidentified female in distress approximately 40-50 yards offshore hanging onto two Styrofoam boards.

Another swimmer, 48-year-old Lonnie Fuchs, made it to the beach on his own and was receiving medical attention from paramedics on scene.

Deputies say two fireman from the St. Pete Beach Fire Department swam out to assist the other swimmers when they got caught in the rough seas and rip current.

In the meantime, a deputy and a Good Samaritan were able to assist the unidentified female swimmer back to shore using a rescue throw rope.

A third fireman entered the water to assist with a throw rope and he was also caught in the rip current.

First responders and bystanders worked together with rescue throw ropes to pull James Tate, Lisa Tate, and Lewis Mazzone back to shore.

Marine Unit deputies responded with a boat and rescued one fireman while the other two fireman were able to grab rescue throw ropes and were pulled back to shore.  

Lonnie Fuchs was transported to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Deputies say the water rescue was a collaborative effort that lasted almost 20 minutes and included the assistance of Good Samaritans, fire rescue, and deputies.