Man drowns trying to save son and wife from rip current at NC beach, police say
A North Carolina man drowned Friday after trying to save his son and wife from a rip current, police say.
Witnesses told police the 10-year-old boy went into the water at Topsail Beach that afternoon and was caught in a rip current. After hearing his screams, his mother went into the water to try to help him but was also swept into the current, Topsail Beach Police Chief Samuel Gervase told McClatchy News.
At that point, 29-year-old Christopher Allen Roberson ran into the water to try to help his son and wife, Gervase told McClatchy. But he got “in trouble himself.”
A bystander then saw what was happening and jumped in the water, Gervase says. He was able to get the child and then the mother out safely. But when he came back for Roberson, he found him face down in the water.
Gervase says his office, along with Pender County EMS and water rescue and the fire department were dispatched to the beach just after 3 p.m.
EMS and other responders tried to revive Roberson with CPR once the bystander brought him back to shore but were unable to do so, Gervase says. He was taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
“We extended out deepest condolences to the family and friends of Christopher Roberson, and this tragic loss of life is a heartbreaking reminder of power and strength of the ocean,” Gervase said. “As the summer season begins, we ask all our beach visitors to take note of posted warnings that indicate the heightened risk of strong currents and rip tides. Please don’t let children swim unattended.”
Gervase told McClatchy that red flags were flying on the beach Friday, indicating the highest risk of rip currents.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says tens of thousands of people are rescued from rip currents by lifeguards each year and that about 100 are killed.
If caught in a rip current, NOAA says to swim parallel to the shore and back to land at an angle. Fighting against a rip current can put swimmers at a higher risk of drowning due to fatigue.
Swimmers can also let the current pull them out until it dissipates, usually just beyond where the waves are breaking, then swim back. However, rip currents can sometimes push people hundreds of yards offshore.
“The most important thing to remember if you are ever caught in a rip current is not to panic,” NOAA says. “Continue to breathe, try to keep your head above water, and don’t exhaust yourself fighting against the force of the current.”
This story was originally published May 31, 2020 at 3:08 PM with the headline "Man drowns trying to save son and wife from rip current at NC beach, police say."
