RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Heading into the Independence Day week holiday, when North Carolina beaches swell with visitors, swimmers at two islands were rescued from the surf this past week, with officials reminding folks about dangerous rip currents.
In a couple of days this past week, three people swept away in the ocean were rescued at North Carolina islands — one north of Wilmington in Onslow County and the other in Brunswick County to the south.
The most recent rescue was on Friday at North Topsail Beach, when a swimmer could not reach shore at the north end near Beach Access 3, according to North Topsail Beach officials.
The North Topsail Beach Fire Department, along with police, responded and recovered the swimmer, who was then taken off the island for medical treatment, town officials said.
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The North Topsail swimmer was a woman initially on a sandbar at the northern inlet of the island, but currents pulled her into deeper water, where she was struggling, according to a report by WCTI. Crews used personal watercraft during a 15-minute search before she was rescued.
North Topsail Beach officials have warned many times about north end currents at the New River Inlet, where shallow sandbars abruptly end — dropping into deep water with dangerous currents…