Miami

2 Killed by Rip Currents at Haulover Beach, 3 Hospitalized

Two people were killed and another three were hospitalized after they were caught in dangerous rip currents at Haulover Beach Tuesday.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials said five people had to be rescued from an unguarded area of Haulover Beach due to the rip currents.

Officials said the five people were swimming when they began to struggle. An off-duty Bal Harbour Police officer jumped into the water to help and assisted Miami-Dade Fire Rescue lifeguards, officials said.

"He had been in court in the morning. As he was heading home, he heard the 911 call being dispatched," explained Capt. Miguel De La Rosa with Bal Harbour Police.

Fire Rescue said two unconscious patients were taken to a nearby hospital. The other three were pulled from the water but were okay, officials said.

Miami-Dade Police later confirmed that two people had died at Aventura Hospital and the other three were taken to nearby hospitals.

Family members identified the victims as Yitzchok Rosenberg, 67, and Chaim Parnes, 66.

In an exclusive interview with NBC 6, Abraham Rosenberg said the thing he never thought would happen was losing his brother, Yitzchok.

"I'm a partner with him for all my life. We grew up together, we were together since I was married, he was married 3 years before me," Abraham said.

Miami-Dade Police said Rosenberg and Chaim were visiting from New York with their friends and families. Respected and loved in their home communities, both were rabbis and businessmen with hearts for giving.

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