Unusual red tide bloom chases swimmers from Panhandle beach

Tuesday, September 14, 1999

Associated Press

PANAMA CITY BEACH - An unusual outbreak of red tide, which most commonly occurs on Florida's southwest coast, has chased swimmers from the beach in this Panhandle resort city.

Clouds of green scum swirled with each crashing wave from the Gulf of Mexico, and the air was filled with the smell of dead fish in some places.

"It makes me cough every time I come down here," said David Vaughn, one of the few people who tried to brave the water at his beachfront home Sunday. "My throat is scratchy. It makes me cough just from standing there."

Those are symptoms of red tide. The primitive plant-like organism can affect people who simply breathe the sea air. Although not fatal to humans, the toxin produced by red tide is deadly to fish.

Vaughn and his roommate, Jimmie Hall, noticed dead fish washing ashore last week. That is when they began waking with cold-like symptoms.

It started with one fish every 4 or 5 feet but by Saturday there were piles of them.

"There's a lot less people walking on the beach," Hall said.

"And if the smell doesn't keep you away, the flies sure do," Vaughn added.