Beachgoer caught in rip current dies after race to rescue him and 2 kids, NC crews say
A beachgoer died after rescuers raced to reach him and two kids off the North Carolina coast, officials said.
All three people were caught in a rip current when first responders were called to a “remote” beach just after 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, according to Pender EMS and Fire Inc.
The 38-year-old man was pulled from the ocean, and bystanders started performing CPR. Emergency crews also tried to revive the man, who died from his injuries at the scene, officials wrote in a news release and told McClatchy News in a June 21 email.
The man had tried to save “two young swimmers” before his death, WWAY reported.
Among the two children caught in the rip current was the deceased man’s 7-year-old son, who was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A 14-year-old girl was treated at the scene, crews said.
Pender EMS and Fire Inc. said several agencies responded to the emergency call due to its location in the Lea Island area. The region, northeast of Wilmington, is undeveloped and must be reached by boat, The News & Observer reported.
What is a rip current?
Rip currents are “powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water” that happen on the coasts of the U.S. and in the Great Lakes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
About 100 people are killed by rip currents each year in the U.S., NOAA reported. Lifeguards rescue thousands of people from rip currents annually.
Experts say people can take steps to stay safe from rip currents, including:
Check the local water conditions before getting in.
Talk to a lifeguard at the beach about the conditions.
Only swim at beaches where lifeguards are present.
Don’t assume great weather means good swimming conditions.
This story was originally published June 22, 2023 at 8:59 AM with the headline "Beachgoer caught in rip current dies after race to rescue him and 2 kids, NC crews say."
