Maryland man drowns off Ocracoke Island

John Wolf, 51, of Woodbine, Md., was vacationing with his family, and all four members were caught in the rip current at about 4 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Three family members made it safely to shore, but bystanders had to pull Wolf from the surf, authorities said. Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

The National Weather Service issued an alert Saturday afternoon for Ocracoke beaches and surrounding areas for a high threat of rip currents and undertow from Tropical Storm Colin, which was churning in the Atlantic Ocean far offshore. The advisory remains in effect until Monday evening.