Staying safe while swimming

Local officials and residents are sharing their water safety tips while swimming.

On Friday evening, the popular swimming area on Wolf River near the Bells Ferry Bridge was filled with swimmers despite the tragedy that occurred on Thursday. For local Bailey Robbins, her decision to go for a swim today was a concerning one for her mother. “She was a bit hesitant. It’s like she told me, ‘don’t swim in rip tides and don’t get waist deep, know your limits more than anything.’”

Despite the calming allure of the water, this swimming area can be dangerous. Harrison County Fire Chief Pat Sullivan said, “This is one of those waterways that can be very placid, very slow moving at times, and not what you would look at as being threatening.”

This area is notorious for being hazardous for swimmers. Harrison County resident Julie Sherwood said, “I’ve seen it before unfortunately from when I was in school and my mom was here.”

News 25 spoke with a few residents that live alongside the Wolf River and they believe public access should be closed off due to safety and that would leave many locals devastated to lose their favorite swimming spot. “That would be horrible. With the years gone by with Biloxi and Long Beach and how the water has all that bacteria in this. This is our one way to be able to swim safely. There is no intermingling of fresh and salt water,” said Robbins.

For now, Harrison County Fire Chief Pat Sullivan preaches his water safety tips. “Know what water you’re swimming in, know what the currents are, know what hazards might be under there.”