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Officials: 65-year-old Pa. man dies at North Carolina beach

OCRACOKE ISLAND, N.C. — A swimmer that had been reported missing at a beach on North Carolina’s Outer Banks has died.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Rangers received a call about the 65-year-old man from Pennsylvania 15 minutes after he went missing near Pony Pen beach on Ocracoke Island Sunday, the National Park Service said in a news release.

After arriving at the scene, one ranger spotted the man face down in the water. A lifeguard brought him to shore and officials administered CPR on him but their efforts were not successful, the release said.

NEWS RELEASE This morning a 65-year-old male from Chester Heights, PA died in the Atlantic Ocean off a beach on Ocracoke...

Posted by Cape Hatteras National Seashore on Sunday, July 12, 2020

Officials said a large rip current was seen at the site the man went missing. A moderate risk of rip currents had also been forecasted for all Outer Banks beaches on Sunday, the release said.

“We strongly urge swimmers to take great caution when entering the Atlantic Ocean where swimming can be challenging for even the most experienced swimmers,” National Parks of Eastern North Carolina Superintendent David Hallac said in the release.

A medical examination will be performed to determine the man’s cause of death, according to the release.