Crews search for missing swimmer in Florida Panhandle

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) – The U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies are searching for a swimmer who was reported missing off a Florida Panhandle beach.

The News Herald reports witnesses said the man entered the water in Panama City Beach Wednesday afternoon to aid a swimmer who was in distress. But the man never resurfaced.

Double red flags warning beachgoers against swimming because of rough surf were flying on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Coast Guard and other agencies continued searching for the man into the night.

The newspaper reports rough surf kept lifeguards busy keeping swimmers out of the water across the Panhandle beaches.

Bay County Beach Operations supervisor Tabitha Kimbrell says swimming is illegal when double red flags are flying.