UNCW women’s basketball coach honors first responders after Wrightsville Beach near-drowning

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — What began as a trip to Wrightsville Beach became a fight for survival for UNCW women’s basketball head coach Nicole Woods.

Woods spoke with WWAY for the first time since nearly drowning in May while trying to save her 8-year-old nephew, Noah.

“I really feel like that when I came up out of the water it was almost like being baptized all over again,” Woods said.

First responders rescued Woods, who said she was unconscious for several hours. When she regained consciousness, her nephew was her first concern.

“I had a breathing tube and everything and so I couldn’t talk and I asked for something to write with and I wrote drown and she said no you know Noah is ok you know he stayed overnight he went home you have a little more trouble so I knew right away he was fine,” Woods said.

Months after the incident, Woods said she has recovered and is preparing to return to the basketball court.

“Other than a little pneumonia and a scratch right here, I’m clean bill of health,” Woods said.

Woods reunited Tuesday with the Novant Health EMS team members and hospital staff who cared for her and her nephew following the incident.

During a ceremony at the Novant Health Business Center, Woods presented first responders and hospital staff with Guardian Angel pins, hugs and words of gratitude for helping save her life.

Novant Health EMS Operations Chief Timothy Corbett said the recognition meant a great deal to everyone involved in Woods’ care.

“It means a lot for the work we do to have an established EMS system, first responders, the lifeguards, the hospital system everything came together for a great outcome,” Corbett said.

Woods said the experience has given her a new perspective on life and strengthened her faith in Jesus Christ.

“He’ll never put more on you than what you can bare, I believe this needed to happen to me to leave all of those things I’ve had burden on me in the water,” Woods said.

Woods said the experience will not keep her from returning to the beach, but she now has a greater respect for the ocean. She encouraged others entering the water to keep a flotation device nearby.

“You don’t need to fear the ocean or fear the water, but you have to have a respect for it. I promise you I’ll never go to the beach again without a flotation device of some sort whether it’s a pool noodle, whether it’s you know a boogie board something like that because if we’d had that which we have at the house it would have been different,” Woods said.

The Novant Health Foundation’s Guardian Angel Program allows patients and their families to recognize caregivers who made a meaningful difference during their care.

Woods said she is looking forward to the upcoming basketball season.