Deadly beach season continues as 41-year-old drowns at Emerald Isle

One person drowned Wednesday afternoon after swimming near Emerald Isle, despite red flag conditions.

Posted 9:56 p.m. Jul 25, 2018 — Updated 1:16 a.m. Jul 26, 2018

Janine Bowen

, WRAL.com editor

EMERALD ISLE, N.C. — One person drowned Wednesday afternoon after swimming near Emerald Isle, despite red flag conditions.

Authorities said a 41-year-old man was pulled from the ocean near the 9000 block of Emerald Isle at about 2:30 p.m., but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Emergency personnel were called to four water rescues within less than one hour Wednesday afternoon as a result of people ignoring the red flag warnings, authorities said.

Video from Emerald Isle showed beach-goers on Wednesday forming a human chain to rescue swimmers from the rough surf. It is unclear if the video was taken before or after the drowning.

Authorities said that red flag warnings remain in place along all 12 miles of the town’s beach because of dangerous surf conditions. Members of the public have been warned to stay out of the water since Sunday and red flag conditions are expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future, town officials said.

State officials warn swimmers to stay out of OBX waters because of high bacteria levels

Wednesday’s incident is the latest of several drownings reported this year at beaches along the North Carolina coast.

Last week, a 32-year old man drowned when he jumped into the water to save his girlfriend’s son, who had been pulled out to sea.

Three drownings were reported at North Carolina beaches on Sunday and a man in his 60s drowned after ignoring rough surf warnings at Kill Devil Hills earlier this month.

In total, more than 10 drowning deaths have been reported in the Outer Banks since April.

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