Two drownings on Hatteras Island have occurred over the last two days. A young woman from Washington, DC and a man from Ohio both drown while swimming in the ocean at the Outer Banks. The first incident happened over the last two days. A young woman from Washington, DC and a man from Ohio both drown while swimming in the ocean at the Outer Banks. The first incident happened north of Avon Pier, the other incident happened near Ramp 55 in Hatteras.
Woman Drowns At Avon Beach
A woman died Monday Seprt. 4 in a water-related incident on a beach in Avon, NC at the Outer Banks. A 911 call was placed about 2:30 pm on Labor Day. The caller reported an unresponsive person in the ocean about a mile north of the Avon Pier. Someone witnessed the swimmer being overtaken by strong waves, and then disappeared into the water. The body resurfaced but was lying face down in the ocean. A bystander and a visitor with a bodyboard brought the victim to shore. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated but was unsuccessful. Dare County Emergency Medical Services, Hatteras Island Rescue Squad and Seashore law enforcement rangers responded to the incident.
The woman not identified by name, was from Washington, DC. It was reported she was 28 years old.
Due to the recent storms, full moon, and higher tides than normal, ocean conditions on the coast have been rough with a high risk of rip currents and large breaking waves.
Second Drowning At Hatteras Beach
Today, just one day later, another water-related incident was reported on Hatteras Island. The National Park Service reported the death of a 68-year-old man from Hillsboro, Ohio. The man was at the south end of Hatteras, at ramp 55. A 911 call was placed at about 10:30 a.m. in which an unresponsive visitor was in the ocean. “Two bystanders shared that the victim was swimming in the ocean when he shouted for help. The bystanders saw the 68-year-old man starting to go underwater when they swam out and pulled him to shore,” stated the NPS news release. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) efforts were initiated but were unsuccessful.
Dare County Sheriff’s Office, Dare County Emergency Medical Services, Hatteras Island Rescue Squad and North Carolina Highway Patrol personnel responded to the incident. A beach hazards statement is in effect through this evening at Hatteras Island beaches for dangerous rip currents and large breaking waves in the surf zone.
Current warnings from the National Weather Service are as follows:
Hatteras Island-
Including the beaches of Rodanthe, Avon, Buxton, Frisco,
Hatteras Village, and Cape Hatteras National Seashore
1102 AM EDT Tue Sep 5 2023
…BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING NORTH OF
CAPE HATTERAS…
…MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING SOUTH OF
CAPE HATTERAS…
.REST OF TODAY…
Rip Current Risk*…
North of Cape Hatteras…High.
South of Cape Hatteras…Moderate.
Surf Height…
North of Cape Hatteras…3 to 5 feet.
South of Cape Hatteras…2 to 4 feet.
