COROLLA, N.C. — The body of a teenage boy who was pulled underwater off the coast of the Outer Banks over the weekend has been recovered.
A spokesperson from the U.S. Coast Guard told 13News Now that Currituck County officials requested USCG assistance at around 1 p.m. Saturday, after a 13-year-old boy was reportedly swept under the water by a rip current near Corolla. The county had asked for the Coast Guard to deploy an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to aid in a search for the missing teen in the water.
Currituck canceled the request for assistance from the Coast Guard around 4 p.m., telling the Coast Guard lifeguards would continue the search along the beach and shoreline.
Currituck County's Chief of Fire-EMS, Ralph Melton, confirms to 13News Now the teen drowned in the ocean and his body was recovered a few hours later.
Officials have not publicly identified the boy at this time.
It is believed to be the second reported drowning on the Outer Banks in recent days. A South Carolina man died after his kayak capsized at Cape Hatteras National Seashore on July 20.
The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) defines rip currents as currents of water flowing away from the shore. Certain conditions can cause these currents to move faster. The National Weather Service and Coast Guard have some tips for avoiding and surviving rip currents.
Spotting a rip current
The Coast Guard says you can find most rip currents by looking for signs of a dark gap that looks like a path through the surf. The water will look darker in the rip current.
If you have polarized sunglasses, they may come in handy.
What to do if you get caught
The NWS recommends staying calm when you get caught in a rip current.
Don't try to swim against the current nor swim to shore. Swim along the shoreline until you can escape the current. When you're free, swim at an angle away from the current toward the shore.
If you need help, face the shore and yell or wave.
Other tips
Check the weather before you go to the beach. 13News Now has the latest forecasts and an interactive radar map on our website and inside our app.
The NWS recommends swimming with a friend. If you have a problem while swimming, the other person can help, and vice versa.