Woman dies after being pulled out of rip current near Oak Island

OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WECT) - Oak Island Water and Rescue responded to a call of at least two people being pulled in by rip currents at around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14.

According to an Oak Island Water Rescue release, witnesses say the victim was caught in a rip current and pulled past the breakers. At least two men swam out into the water above their heads to bring the victim ashore.

The victim died after being pulled ashore.

These sorts of rescues can be dangerous: 30% of rip current drownings are people attempting to rescue someone in a rip current. OIWR doesn’t encourage untrained rescues, but recommends taking a flotation device such as a a boogie board for any attempted rescue.

“After three fatal beach drownings (as determined by medical examiner) in less than a month, we struggle with how to improve our beach safety messaging to the public. Yesterday was a Moderate rip current risk, as it has been with the past five drownings here,” said OIWR in a release. “We made multiple social media posts about the danger, but we know not every beachgoer is on social media.”

Ocean Isle Water Rescue also shared several photos of what rip currents look like from the beach: dark, seemingly calm areas between white waves.

The identity of the victim is unknown at this time.

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