TOPSAIL BEACH–A former town employee at Topsail Beach drowned Monday off the coast of the Pender County beach town.
Laurel King, 66, drowned at noon Monday near the 1300 block of Ocean Boulevard, according to Topsail Beach Police Chief Sam Gervase.
King worked as assistant town clerk for several years before retiring from the Town of Topsail Beach, Gervase said.
Rip currents have been blamed for several area drownings this summer, but Gervase said Monday’s National Weather Service forecast did not indicate an elevated rip current threat, nor did the water appear dangerous for swimming.
“The water was actually very calm. It was unusual that we had a call like that on a day when the water was so calm,” Gervase said.
No pre-existing or other medical conditions were a factor in King’s death, Gervase said, adding a medical examiner ruled the cause of death as drowning.
King’s death was the second drowning this summer in Topsail Beach. In Brunswick County, six people have drowned this summer—four of whom drowned the week of July Fourth.
“We went years without any drownings. The past couple years have been unusual and I don’t like it,” Gervase said.
Gervase reminds swimmers of the potential hazards of swimming in ocean, even without an elevated rip current risk.
“Educate yourself as best you can about the dangers of swimming in the ocean. There’s plenty of information about rip currents. Just try to use good judgment. Oddly enough, it’s not the children; it’s the adults. Maybe people are exercising more caution when kids are involved,” Gervase said.
Pender County and Brunswick County beach towns do not have lifeguards on the beach strands.
“Pender County Emergency Services has a water rescue team that responds to calls and they’re very good and fast. But, you know, they can’t be everywhere at once. We have officers on the road, and, of course, we get there very fast, too.
“Most often times, it’s the citizens who help the people who are in trouble. They’re right there. They’re really our first line of defense in these cases,” Gervase said.
Click here for rip current safety tips and forecasts from the National Weather Service.
