Popular beach week, approach of Elsa bring more rip currents, rescues to NC beaches

The combination of a holiday week – with the beach visitors that brings – and an imminent tropical storm churning the waters makes for some dangerous surf.

Sam Proffitt, captain of the Wrightsville Beach Fire Department Ocean Rescue Team, said, "We’re having an increase in swell activity. So, the past couple days, we’ve had a little bit larger swell than normal, we’ve had an increase in currents and rip currents."

As WRAL Eastern North Carolina reporter Keenan Willard worked to gather information to report on rip currents Tuesday afternoon, he said, "I heard this voice from the ocean, just screaming for help. I looked out, and there was a young man throwing his arms in the air, caught in a rip tide."

Lifeguards sprinted into the surf and were able to strap the man to a floatation device, Willard said.

"But when they carried him onto the beach, it truly looked like he was not responsive," he said.

Rescuers pumped his lungs on the sand, and after a few minutes, he was able to sit up and breathe on his own.

The crowd on the beach cheered in relief.

Proffitt warned that the best prevention is simply paying attention.

"Always swim near a lifeguard stand. We have a three-flag system here: green, yellow and red. When you come out the beach, make note of the flag color. If we are flying red, that means danger. Do not enter the water, it’s a dangerous situation. It’s not worth the risk.

"As that storm approaches, and things do seem like they’re going to be dangerous here along the coast, just stay out of the water."

Wrightsville Beach Mayor Darryl Mills had praise for the ocean rescue team, pointing out that the rescue number was unusually high, but no lives were lost.

"Rip currents can occur anywhere along the beach area," Proffitt said. "So it’s very hard for us to say right now where they’re going to occur.

"I can tell you with 100% certainty this pier is extremely dangerous. You just want to stay away from structured objects like this. A lot of times, they create like a permanent rip current around them, and so it can be very dangerous."

Rip currents can be spotted, if you know what to look for.

"That’s what the lifeguards are trained on, how to recognize them and be proactive and get people out of it," Proffitt said.

Lt. John Scull, with the Wrightsville Beach Fire Department Ocean Rescue Team, took WRAL News reporter Amanda Lamb into the water in 2019 for training in how to survive a rip current.

The most important thing to do is remain calm. Float or tread water, trying to conserve your energy, and shout and wave your arms to attract attention. If the current is pulling you out, swim parallel to to shore and continue to signal for help.