2 rescued from rip currents at North Carolina island; NC man added to national list of 21 rip current deaths this year

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Two people were rescued from rip currents at a North Carolina island this week, just as a young man from the Tar Heel state was the latest addition to a list of rip current deaths kept yearly by the National Weather Service.

Amid a high rip current risk just to the north, two swimmers were rescued by lifeguards at Emerald Isle beach in Carteret County, according to the National Weather Service. The Friday rescues were near Bogue Inlet Pier during a moderate rip current risk, officials said.

On Friday, after lifeguards at Hatteras Island reported “frequent strong rip currents” south of Cape Hatteras, the weather service upgraded the rip current risk to high from Cape Hatteras to Ocracoke Inlet. On Saturday, there was a moderate rip current risk for all North Carolina beaches south of Cape Hatteras.

The recent rescues came after 15 people were pulled from rip currents along the North Carolina coast over two days last week, including on the Fourth of July, officials said.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service updated a yearly list of deaths that happen in “surf zones” of United States beaches.

A 23-year-old man from North Carolina was added to a national list of deaths from rip currents. Matthew Bauer of High Point died June 16 after going swimming at Holden Beach, officials said

Bauer’s body was found near Oak Island after a two-day search. The rip current risk was moderate on the day Bauer died, officials said.

“Rip currents cause a large percentage of the surf zone fatalities in the United States,” the weather service warns.

So far, 36 people have died this year in surf zones — 21 of those in rip currents, according to the weather service.

Other surf zone deaths are listed in categories that include high surf or “sneaker wave” or inlet currents.