Dare County man dies after being caught in Outer Banks rip current, officials say

Authorities said a Virginia man with a home in the Outer Banks was killed Saturday after he apparently became caught in a rip current in Dare County, the latest casualty in a string of deaths linked to rough waters off the North Carolina coast.

Posted 1:34 a.m. May 26, 2019 — Updated 4:08 a.m. May 26, 2019

Alfred Charles

, WRAL.com managing editor

SOUTHERN SHORES, N.C. — Authorities said a Virginia man with a home in Dare County along the the Outer Banks was killed Saturday after he apparently became caught in a rip current, the latest casualty in a string of deaths linked to rough waters off the North Carolina coast.

John Albright, 68, of Blacksburg, Virginia, and who had a home in Southern Shores, was pulled from the ocean in the area between First and Second avenues just after 12 p.m., Southern Shores police said in a written statement.

The man's wife was also caught in the rip current but she apparently was able to make it out safely.

Bystanders performed CPR on Albright before paramedics arrived at the scene and tried to revive him.

Albright died at the scene, authorities said. An autopsy was pending, according to the statement.

WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell said the Outer Banks is under a moderate risk for rip currents Sunday.

Marine geologist: NC coast creates conditions ripe for rip currents

Albright is the latest known casualty to die in rough surf off the state's coastline.

Earlier this month, Paige Merical, 17, of Wake Forest, and her classmate, Ian Lewis, 18, were killed when they drowned in a rip current off Emerald Isle while on spring break.

On May 14, Austin "Catfish" Potter, 24, of Kenly, and his girlfriend's young son where swept away in a rip current after they were caught in rough surf near the Oceanana Pier.

There are ways to survive rip currents, experts say. Those tips include:

Rip current survival tips

If caught in a rip current, remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
Don’t fight the current. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself. Face the shore, wave your arms and yell for help.

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