PERDIDO KEY, Fla. — Gulf Coast Newspapers lost one of its own Friday following a drowning off Perdido Key.

Dan Jackson, 59, who served Gulf Coast Newspapers as an advertising representative since 2002, was caught in a rip current off Perdido Key, just east of Johnson Beach, according to public reports.

“He was a valued employee and a friend and we are still in shock and at a loss as to why things like this happen,” said David Williams, associate group publisher for Baldwin County’s eight newspapers, including the Baldwin Times in Bay Minette, The Independent in Robertsdale, the Daphne Bulletin, the Spanish Fort Sun, The Fairhope Courier, the Foley Onlooker, The Islander in Gulf Shores and the Elberta • Lillian Ledger. “We will miss him and join with his clients and many friends in offering our heartfelt condolences to his family. Dan Jackson will be missed.”

A native of Iowa and a former resident of North Carolina, Jackson had over 25 years of sales experience in the automotive and advertising industries.

In published reports which quoted officials with the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a witness on the beach called 911 shortly before 4 p.m., reporting that two people were caught in the rip current on a section of Gulf Islands National Seashore that is not monitored by lifeguards.

Lifeguards from the Johnson Beach pavilion responded to the call.

A 20-year-old woman who was not identified by officials, was rescued, treated and released with minor injuries.

Jackson was LifeFlighted to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, where he was pronounced dead at 4:48 p.m.