57-year-old drowns at Emerald Isle

A 57-year-old man drowned Wednesday at Emerald Isle, according to the town.

Emergency crews responded to the 4800 block of Ocean Drive around 4 p.m. The man, who officials said was visiting the area, was pronounced dead.

The name of the victim is being withheld until his family can be notified. No additional information was available.

52-year-old Hickory man drowns at Oak Island

The drowning comes only three days after 52-year-old Kevin Whitley of Hickory, N.C., was pulled to shore at Oak Island. Whitley died despite resuscitation efforts by bystanders. 

In June, a 37-year-old woman drowned off the coast of the Outer Banks.

If you become caught in a rip current:

• Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
• Never fight against the current.
• Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
• Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle – away from the current – toward 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 by waving your arm and yelling for help.