Two people died in separate drowning incidents along Brevard and Volusia County beaches as severe weather hit Florida on May 3, 2026. A 17-year-old boy and a 32-year-old woman drowned in separate incidents at Cocoa Beach and Daytona Beach amid rough surf and dangerous rip currents. Local officials said the conditions created life-threatening risks for swimmers.
Cocoa Beach Police Department responded to Lori Wilson Park around 5:30 p.m. after reports of two teenagers struggling in the water. A 12-year-old was pulled safely to shore, but the 17-year-old was later found unresponsive. He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead. Brevard County Beach Rescue spokesperson Don Walker said waves were "extremely rough" during the incident, though authorities did not directly link the death to the weather.
In Daytona Beach, a 32-year-old woman drowned near Main Street Pier on Friday evening. Volusia County Beach Safety officials said she was caught in a rip current about 100 meters from shore. Rescue crews found her unresponsive and transported her to a hospital, where she was declared dead. The incident occurred as heavy rain and strong winds swept the region earlier in the week.
Authorities have warned beachgoers to avoid water near rip currents and to stay out of the surf during storms. Both incidents highlight the dangers of coastal swimming during severe weather. No other fatalities were reported in Brevard or Volusia counties as of Monday.