Two drown at Miramar Beach
The Walton County Sheriff's Office responded to a water rescue call in Miramar Beach at 4:22 p.m. Tuesday in which two
men drowned.
A Gregory Carson, age 43, and his son, Dominique Chatman, age 23, from Slidell, La., came into distress while in the water behind Surfside Condos. Two Good Samaritans attempted to rescue the men but to no avail. The investigation has shown that the men went in the water to help two family members in distress and were not able to make it back to shore.
South Walton Fire District lifeguards responded and were able to pull everyone from the water. Members from the Walton County Sheriff's Office Beach Patrol Unit and the Aviation Unit were dispatched to provide additional assistance.
The victims were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast where they were later pronounced dead.
The Good Samaritans were transported as well as a precautionary measure due to potential water inhalation. Family members were treated at the scene for stress-related conditions and one member was transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure as well.
At the time of the incident, the Beach Warning Flag System was at condition yellow, indicting medium hazard conditions.