Northwest Florida Daily News

Two Slidell men drowned off Miramar Beach in the Gulf of Mexico at about 4:20 p.m. Tuesday after they swam out to rescue family members in distress.

Gregory Carson, 43, and his son, 23-year-old Dominique Chatman were pronounced dead at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast after rescuers from South Walton, Fla., Fire District lifeguards pulled them from the water. South Walton Fire District Chief Mike Thomas called the day's surf "truly yellow-flag conditions" and couldn't tell if a rip tide had pulled the men away from shore.

"I don't really know what caused all this," he said.

An initial sheriff's investigation indicated the men swam out to help two family members but couldn't get back to shore.

Thomas said Carson and Chatman were "in full cardiac arrest" on the beach when he arrived at the scene.

Two good Samaritans had also attempted to save the men, but couldn't.

The Samaritans were taken to a hospital in case they inhaled water, according to a sheriff's release. Family members of the victims were also treated at the scene for "stress-related conditions" - with one transported to the hospital for precautionary reasons.

Thomas said over a dozen units from both Walton and Okaloosa counties responded to the scene. He said the area was "not a protected beach," with the nearest lifeguard stand sitting about a half-mile away.

Rescuers initially called for an aircraft to help rescue the swimmers, but cancelled it.

At the time of the incident, the Beach Warning Flag System was at condition yellow, indicating medium hazard conditions.

A Kansas man was also reported to have drowned in the Gulf on Sunday while vacationing with his wife on Navarre Beach.