TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WSAV) A man drowned on Tybee Island Sunday near 19th Street, and officials say its the fifth drowning this year.

According to the city, lifeguards were dispatched to the area at 3:26 p.m. to search for a swimmer in distress. They recovered the swimmers body at 4:41 p.m. about 100 yards offshore.

Just last month another drowning happened. This one was further down the beach. Police say a man jumped off the pier then got caught in a riptide.

The most recent drowning victim was a male in his late 30s. Authorities are waiting to notify next of kin before releasing his identity.

Terrell Peterson lives on Tybee Island. As a surfer, hes familiar with the water and says things can go from bad the worse in a matter of seconds.

The tide pulls between and low and high tide are very deceiving so they can pull you much stronger than what you think, said Peterson.

Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions says a red flag warning was in place all day on Sunday because high winds were making the water rough.

The mayor tells WSAV that she and city council members are discussing ways to help make the beach safer during red flag days.

She says theyre discussing putting up signage showing the sandbar at low and high tide. Tybee City Manager Shawn Gillen added that theyre also considering closing the area to swimmers when waters get too rough.

Its something our fire department really takes to heart, Gillen said. Its challenging for them because they have to deal with it face to face, and the rip currents are very dangerous.

He continued: When that wind starts blowing and the wave action gets pretty rough, people can get in trouble real fast and they might not realize it.

Gillen says lifeguards will remain on patrol through the fall. While a red flag warning was in place during the most recent drowning, he says they want to put warnings up sooner.

Closing it off entirely to swimmers in certain areas is challenging of course because its such a big beach, said Gillen.

Gillen says they couldnt make that move without a city council vote.

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19th Street drowning is Tybee Islands 5th this year, officials say - WSAV-TV