UPDATE: Beach Drowning Victim Identified - WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News Leader

UPDATE: The Panama City Beach Police Department has released the name of the drowning victim from Sunday.

The victim has been identified as Amaldav Pavithran from South India, who was on a temporary work visa from Montgomery, AL.

===

So far this year more than half a dozen people have drowned at the beach. A 26-year-old man, whose identity has not been released, is the latest victim.

Hurricane Isaac brought out the double red flags, but they changed to single reds Saturday, and then yellow Sunday morning. Witnesses say the Gulf looked the calmest it has in weeks, but it turned deadly once again, leading to a chaotic scene on a small section of beach.

Sunday, Brandon Donley says, he stumbled across tragedy.

"We tried to drag him out as fast as we could but it was still too late," said Donley.

He and another eye witnesses were the first to notice a figure underwater. Immediately the two men realized it was a person and pulled him to shore.

"It looked like he'd been under there for quite some time," said Donley. "He wasn't moving, blinking, nothing... he felt like dead weight."

The Gulf's calm appearance can be deceiving to those who don't recognize the rip currents that lurk under the surface. It was clearly visible on the section of beach in front of the Grandview East condominiums.

"There are still rip currents out there from the storms and everything so people just need to be safe and be cautious when they do go in the water every time and any time," said Corporal Emily Melton with Panama City Beach Police.

"The water just looks very weird," said Donley. "Just the waves are not how they should be and will drag you as soon as you get in there just a little bit deep.

"There's no telling when it will happen. It's dangerous."

The scene is keeping witnesses out of the water. Confirming fears about the Gulf's unforgiving nature.

"I've never seen anybody drowned on the beach," said eyewitness Stephanie Lanier. "It's pretty scary. I haven't been back in the water since.

"I don't like the ocean," said Brannon Page, a second eyewitness.

"Why?"

"It scares me. People drown," he said.

Corporal Melton says the Gulf provides no definite answers.

"It is the ocean, so it is the unknown and there can be rip currents at any point in time."

"People think they're invincible," said Lanier. "But, the ocean is bigger than us and they just need to be careful."

"I'm just sorry it happened," said Donley. "I wish I could have done something sooner."

The name of Sundays drowning victim has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.