Boogie Boarder Drowns Off Ocracoke Island

James West, 49, went swimming with family members and friends across from Ramp 68 at the park campground on Ocracoke Island on the morning of Monday, August 6th. While other members of his family watched their kids in the water near the shoreline, West paddled out into the ocean on a boogie board. A friend subsequently saw him swimming out further into the waves. West’s son then saw his father’s boogie board float to shore and alerted family members, who then saw another visitor attempting to bring West to shore. They ran into the water and helped him. CPR was begun by another park visitor and Hyde County dispatch was notified. Rangers responded along with Ocracoke paramedics and firefighters. Despite the administration of advanced life support measures, West was pronounced dead upon arrival at Ocracoke Health Center.