Third swimmer death reported in 3 days on Outer Banks

Corinne Saunders, The Virginian-Pilot
·2 min read

NAGS HEAD — A third person in as many days has died on the Outer Banks after swimming in the ocean.

A 36-year-old man from Enfield, Connecticut, died Wednesday evening after being pulled from the Atlantic Ocean in Nags Head, according to a town release sent Thursday around midday.

Nags Head Fire and Ocean Rescue and police responded to a 911 call at 5:50 p.m. Wednesday reporting a man in distress in the ocean about 50 yards north of Nags Head Fishing Pier in the 3300 block of South Virginia Dare Trail, the release said.

An ocean rescue guard arrived first, “quickly pulled the man from the water” and began CPR, according to the release. Dare County Emergency Medical Services took the man to Outer Banks Health, formerly called the Outer Banks Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“The Town of Nags Head’s thoughts are with the man’s family and friends after this tragic event,” the release said. It also thanked the “good Samaritan on the beach” and Dare County EMS for its assistance with the call.

Two visitors died earlier this week after swimming in the ocean south of Nags Head, at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

On Monday, a 28-year-old woman from Washington, D.C., died after a witness said she was overtaken by strong waves, disappeared under the water and was then seen floating face-down.

On Tuesday, a 68-year-old Ohio man died despite the efforts of two bystanders, who swam out and pulled him to shore in response to his calls for help.

The Nags Head press release cautioned beachgoers to swim near a lifeguard, to never swim alone and to learn about rip current safety before entering the ocean.

Nags Head Ocean Rescue provides water rescue services from April through October. Lifeguard stands are staffed at the Bonnett, Epstein and Gulfstream public beach accesses through Sept. 30. Guards on roving ATVs patrol the beach through Oct. 31, subject to change due to staffing levels, according to the release.

For local information on water and beach safety, visit LovetheBeachRespecttheOcean.com.