OAK ISLAND — On Sunday a man passed away from drowning, according to local authorities who are investigating the incident in a Brunswick County beach town.
READ MORE: Water rescues in Oak Island amid swimming advisory
Oak Island police and fire departments, as well as ocean rescue, were dispatched to the beach access on SE 75th Street just after 5 p.m. on Sept. 1. A call was made about a missing swimmer, 37-year-old Brannon Rife, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
He was swimming with family, who lost sight of him in the water. Green flags were flying on the beach Sunday, indicating low hazard conditions in the water, though rip currents are still possible.
Within a few minutes of contacting authorities, Rife was located unresponsive. Bystanders brought him to shore and began CPR measures until emergency crews arrived on the scene.
Additional life-saving measures were taken by authorities until EMS transported Rife to Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center; while there, he was pronounced deceased.
The Oak Island Police Department is performing a death investigation and so far ruled it an accidental drowning.
“There were no reported signs of distress, and no adverse water conditions were apparent at the time,” according to a release. “It is unknown at this time if there were any pre-existing or sudden medical conditions which may have been a contributing factor.”
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