Fatal Drowning and Parking Caution
Just after 2:00 PM, Oak Island Water Rescue, Oak Island Fire Department, Oak Island Police Department, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol, and the United States Coast Guard were alerted for a person in the water, struggling to make it back to shore. We began our response to the West 23rd Street Beach Access with both 4×4 pick-up trucks (4481 & 4482) and our surf launch craft, Boat 4491.
Beachgoers pulled the person from the water and began CPR as Oak Island Fire Department’s paramedic equipped engine was arriving. The Oak Island Water Rescue Chief arrived and advised that the West 23rd Beach Access was inaccessible for our emergency vehicles due to the vehicles parked there. Fortunately we were able to use a different beach access, without a delay in response, to make our way into the beach. That beach access was almost blocked with parked vehicles as well.
Upon our arrival we assisted the Oak Island Fire Department crew with manpower and CPR, while Oak Island Police Department helped with the crowd management and talked to witnesses. Oak Island Police Department did a great job of getting the West 23rd Beach Access open so we could transport the patient on our 4×4 truck to the Brunswick County EMS paramedic ambulance.
We are very thankful to those on the beach who jumped into action to bring the victim ashore and began resuscitation efforts. Unfortunately the effort everyone put into trying to save the life of this young man were unsuccessful.
