Area beaches report several rescues due to rip currents

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Several area beaches are warning of rip currents this weekend.

Sunday morning the Town Clerk of Sunset Beach Lisa Anglin issued a warning about rip currents.

“Please be advised that a High Rip Current Risk is in effect for our area through the remainder of today,” Anglin said.

Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue Captain Jeremy Owens said crews have performed six rescues due to rip currents so far today.

Myrtle Beach Ocean Rescue reports two rescues.

Anglin said rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as jetties and piers. If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help, remain calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.