3 dead after being pulled from North Carolina waters
Three people are dead after being pulled from the ocean waters along the beaches of North Carolina on Saturday.
The deaths occurred at three separate beaches along the state's southern coast.
A 20-year-old man was among the fatalities. According to WTVD, he was swept away by a rip current off Holden Beach on Saturday afternoon.
The man was pulled from the water by a surfer, but he later died at a local hospital.
About 25 miles to the north in Sunset Beach, another man drowned when trying to help another swimmer in need earlier in the afternoon. He was about 40 years old.
The other swimmer was reportedly rescued, according to the Wilmington Star News.
Wrightsville Beach was the site of the third death.
Lifeguards noticed the middle-aged man in distress during the midday hours of Saturday. He was not breathing when rescuers reached him and could not be revived.
The Star News reported he was swimming a good distance from the shoreline.
Swimmers at many United States East Coast beaches will have to use caution this week as persistent gusty winds can stir rough surf and increase the risk of rip currents.
If caught in a rip current, do not panic or fight the current. Swim parallel to the coast until you escape the rip current. You should then swim at an angle, away from the current and toward the beach.
Beachgoers are already facing nearly daily showers and thunderstorms threatening to spoil vacation plans.
It is vital that those braving the unsettled weather closely monitor weather apps and enable alerts on cell phones to warn of impending thunderstorms.
As soon as thunder is heard, the risk of being struck by lightning is present. However, waves crashing onto the beach make it extremely difficult to hear that warning.
Report a Typo
