Man swimming with family at NC island dies after he’s pulled from surf

OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WNCN) — A man who was swimming on the North Carolina coast Sunday died after he was pulled out of the surf at Oak Island on Sunday afternoon, police said.

The incident was reported as a missing swimmer at 5:15 p.m. near the beach access location at SE 75th Street, according to an Oak Island Police Department news release.

Brannon Rife, 37, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, was swimming with family when they lost sight of him in the water, police said.

About two minutes after the 911 call, bystanders were able to find Rife, who was unresponsive, and bring him to the beach, according to police.

“They began to perform CPR as Fire Department crews arrived. Additional life saving measures were taken before Mr. Rife was transported by EMS to Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased,” officers said in the release.

Police are investigating the incident they are calling an accidental drowning, the news release said. Oak Island is located in Brunswick County, south of Wilmington.

“There were no reported signs of distress, and no adverse water conditions were apparent at the time; surf conditions were at green flag,” police said.

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