Ocracoke Visitor Drowns at Airport Beach

The drowning took place this afternoon near Ramp 70 (adjacent to the airport) on Ocracoke. The two men were swimming about 60 yards off the beach, and had just had a conversation about the strong current when a big wave separated them. The younger man made it back to shore and called 911. The older man, a 67 year-old visitor, did not.

The 911 call came in to Hyde County dispatch at 2:57pm. Hyde County EMS, lifeguards, Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department, and NPS Rangers Matthew Sitterson and Corey Cutright, and Beach Towing all responded to the emergency, reported Cape Hatteras National Seashore Chief Ranger Boone Vandzura. CPR rescue efforts were unsuccessful. NPS is not releasing the victim's name until family members have been notified.

"It was a tragic day, and our thoughts are with the family members," Vandzura said. 

The risk for rip currents on Ocracoke was moderate today, according to NOAA. 

Rip currents are fast moving, strong, currents that carry swimmers out to sea. A rip current can overpower even strong swimmers, and can happen at any beach. According to the U.S. Lifesaving Association (USLA), more than 80% of the beach rescues performed by lifeguards each year involve rip currents. The safest place to swim is at a lifeguarded beach; there have been no recorded drownings at a Seashore beach where lifeguards have been on duty. Learn more about keeping safe at the beach here. 

This is the only drowning on the Seashore this year. Earlier in the season, there was a near-drowning on a Seashore beach near Chicamacomico. That swimmer was revived by rescuers. There were no drownings in 2015.