Lifeguard rescue operation beach
An 18-year-old man tragically lost his life after being pulled from the ocean at Nags Head on Wednesday. The incident unfolded just hours before the celebrations of Independence Day were set to commence.
The distress call reached the Nags Head’s Fire and Rescue services just before 3 p.m. Subsequently, police officers arrived at the Gull Street public beach access located on South Virginia Dare Trail. The call was about three swimmers reportedly in difficulty amidst the ocean waves. Two of the swimmers managed to return to shore, with a Nags Head lifeguard assisting one of them. The recovered swimmers were swiftly taken to the Outer Banks Hospital.
In an attempt to locate the third swimmer, a Nags Head police officer deployed a drone over the swirling waters. After the man was located, he was brought ashore by a gallant Nags Head lifeguard and immediately taken to the same hospital. However, despite all the efforts, the young man was pronounced dead upon his arrival at the medical facility.
“The town’s thoughts are with the man’s family and friends after this tragic event,” a release from the Town of Nags Head conveyed, expressing their consolidated feelings of deep sorrow over the incident.
The young man, a visitor from Columbus, Ohio, had been enjoying the oceanic beauty of Nags Head before the unfortunate incident. To respect the grieving family’s privacy, his name has been withheld.
This tragic incident follows closely the fatal drowning of a 12-year-old boy at a Johnston County Lake the previous Saturday. Furthermore, a Wake deputy’s 2-year-old son also tragically drowned in a pool last week. In light of this string of watery accidents, people across the state are urged to exercise extreme caution, especially when swimming in unfamiliar waters.
Authorities are extremely concerned and are calling for a renewal of focus on water safety precautions. Nags Head, beloved for its beach attractiveness, is seeing an increased influx of tourists during this season. Visitors are reminded to stay vigilant of ocean conditions, respect safety flag instructions, and refrain from swimming during unfavorable weather conditions or far away from shore.