Ex- NFL QB Ryan Mallett Died At The Florida Beach By Drowning In A Riptide

Ryan Mallett, a former professional football player, was reported to have drowned on Tuesday in Florida, according to authorities.

Mallett, 35, was retrieved unconscious from the sea near Destin and later confirmed dead at a hospital, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Mallett is the drowning victim, according to Michele Nicholson, a spokeswoman for the sheriff.

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Ex- NFL QB Ryan Mallett Died At The Florida Beach By Drowning In A Riptide

First responders were summoned to the beach at approximately 2:00 p.m. ET after reports that some persons were having difficulty returning to the shore near the sandbar, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Mallett was unconscious when he was returned to the shore.

“One of the individuals, an adult male, went under and lifeguards say he was not breathing when pulled out,” the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office  said in a statement. “Lifesaving measures were immediately undertaken but the man was pronounced deceased at the Destin Emergency Room.”

Between Fort Morgan, Alabama, and Panama City Beach, Florida, a region that encompasses the beach where the former NFL player reportedly drowned, there have been fatalities this month linked to rip currents. Although the authorities did not attribute Mallet’s demise to the severe waves, they have been alerting beachgoers to risky water conditions.

According to the National Weather Service, rip currents are “relatively small-scale surf-zone currents” that develop as waves break across the beach, trapping water between the beach and a sandbar or other structure so it “converges into a narrow, river-like channel moving away from the shore at high speed.” A rip current may drag even the best swimmer away from the beach beyond the breaking waves, even if it won’t drag someone underwater.

Mallett was chosen by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Later, he played with the Patriots (2011–13), Houston Texans (2014–15), and Baltimore Ravens (2015–17) for seven seasons in the NFL.

In a social media post, the Patriots organization expressed its sympathy.

“The New England Patriots are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected passing of former quarterback Ryan Mallett,” the post read. “Our thoughts are with the Mallett family, his former teammates and all who are mourning his loss.”

 

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