Man hears screams in ocean, pulls young girls from Outer Banks rip current, officials say
A man rescued two young girls from a rip current on an Outer Banks beach, officials say.
Jeffrey Del Monte was driving an off-road vehicle with his wife and a friend late Friday afternoon near ramp 49 in Frisco when they heard children’s screams coming from the beach, according to a Saturday release from the National Park Service.
They looked out to the water to try to find where the screams were coming from and spotted two young girls apparently caught in a rip current, the NPS says.
Del Monte swam out and helped one of the girls out of the rip current, and his friend swam her back to shore. He then found the other “in distress” and swam her back to the beach from about 100 yards, the release says.
The two “tended” to the children on the beach until Dare County Emergency Medical Services and a Cape Hatteras National Seashore Ranger arrive, the park service says.
“Jeffrey Del Monte’s heroic, selfless, and prompt actions were critical to saving these two girls from a very dangerous situation,” David Hallac, National Parks of Eastern North Carolina superintendent, said in the release. “I am thankful for his courage and expertise which allowed him to perform this successful ocean rescue.”
The park service says it’s important to check the beach forecast for rip currents and other hazards before getting in the water. Swimmers should also bring a flotation device.
A tropical storm warning has been issued for North Carolina’s Outer Banks as tropical storm Arthur moves toward the coast.
The storm will bring an enhanced risk of rip currents starting Sunday through the early part of the week, and visitors are advised to stay out of water during this time, the NPS says.
This story was originally published May 17, 2020 at 2:24 PM with the headline "Man hears screams in ocean, pulls young girls from Outer Banks rip current, officials say."
