Two swimmers rescued off Carolina Beach

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue helped pull two people out of the water off Freeman Park today. The two swimmers were caught in the inlet between Carolina Beach and Masonboro Island. They were not caught in a rip current. Instead, it was a strong tide pulling them out to sea.

“It’s not a rip current, but it basically has the same effects of a rip current,” head lifeguard Mallory Albritton said. “That area in between the two beaches, once the tide is going out it will pull the water out with it. It creates a really strong current.”

Both of the swimmers are OK. While the tide created problems, rip currents were not common today because of the low wind.