On the evening of July 4th, Hyde County dispatch advised the park that several swimmers were in trouble near the airstrip on the ocean side of Ocracoke Island. John Parsons, 42, was swimming with a friend and family members in the ocean just off Ramp #70 when they became caught in a rip current. The family members and friend, helped by other beachgoers, managed to get back to shore safely. Parsons was also brought back to shore, but was not breathing when pulled out of the water. CPR was started by an off-duty Ocracoke EMT and another park visitor. NPS rangers responded, along with off-duty NPS lifeguards and Ocracoke EMS. Ocracoke EMS continued advance life-support procedures while transporting Parsons to the Ocracoke Health Center. He could not be revived, though, and was pronounced dead.
