BUXTON, NC (WNCN) - A 55-year-old Benson man died while swimming in the waters of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on Wednesday, officials said.
Around 10 a.m., the man was seen on a sandbar about 50 yards from the shore south of the Frisco Day Use Area.
The man's family began to call for help and a male bystander started to swim out to help the man.
But the 55-year-old was swept away before help arrived by what officials said could have been a rip current.
The man's body was pulled to the beach as it got closer to the shore.
CPR was administered by another bystander until emergency responders arrived.
Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
Dare County Emergency Medical Services, Dare County Sheriff’s Office, Hatteras Island Rescue Squad, and Seashore Rangers responded to the incident.
This is one of three swimming-related deaths at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in 2018.
A 55-year-old man visiting from Massachusets died Wednesday and a 79-year-old from Pennsylvania died June 3.
There were seven swimming-related fatalities in 2017 and eight in 2016, officials said.