Father and son killed in Oak Island rip current
A father and son were killed Wednesday afternoon after getting caught in a rip current near Oak Island pier.
WECT reports that Oak Island Water Recue responded to a call around 1:30 p.m. for swimmers stuck in a rip current.
Officials said that 50-year-old Christopher Lewis Hawkins was pulled out of the water by bystanders. He was unconscious and in cardiac arrest when first responders arrived, according to officials.
About two hours later, the body of Michael Christopher Hawkins, 28, was found.
Both men were from Shelby. Officials said the father and son were at the beach for a family visit.
A yellow flag, which means there is a medium risk for rip currents, was flying at Oak Island on Wednesday.
Tropical Storm Henri, which is expected to become a Category 1 hurricane soon, will cause high surf, dangerous rip currents and some erosion for the Carolina coast through the weekend.
WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell said it's likely to be unsafe to swim or boat at the beach this weekend.
