Sadly, a college exchange student drowned early Friday when she got caught in a rip tide off the coast of Miami Beach.

"Four college students from Russia were walking along Miami Beach when they decided to go into the water off 16th Street in Miami Beach. Three of the young women immediately came out because of the roughness of the surf. However, the fourth woman had ventured further into the water and was caught in the rip tide. One of her companions tried to rescue her only to be caught by the tide as well.

The women on the shore flagged down help. Miami-Dade County sea turtle observers and a Miami Beach police officer went in after the two women.

The officer was able to pull out the second women, but was unable to rescue the first.

Miami Beach Fire-Rescue arrived on the scene and pulled the woman out of the water. She was not breathing and had no heartbeat, officials said.

She was rushed to South Miami Beach Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Source: Miami Hearld (registration required)