Missing teen’s body found in 10 feet of water in the Pamlico Sound, NC officials say
The body of an 18-year-old from West Virginia was found Thursday in the Pamlico Sound off the coast of North Carolina, officials said.
Search and rescue teams found him around 11 a.m. using a sonar scan, Cape Hatteras National Seashore said in a news release. His body was recovered from the floor of the sound in roughly 10 feet of water and brought to shore where he was identified as the missing swimmer.
“We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends during this very difficult time,” David Hallac, superintendent of the National Parks of Eastern North Carolina, said in the release.
The swimmer, who is not named, was reported missing around 2 p.m. Wednesday and was last seen about 100 yards from the shoreline “near the edge of a historically dredged, deep water area,” according to Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
He was swimming in the Pamlico Sound near the Haulover Sound Access at the time, the release states.
Officials from the U.S. Coast Guard, Hatteras Island Rescue Squad, N.C. Marine Patrol, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, Dare County Sheriff’s Office, Dare County Emergency Medical Services and Cape Hatteras National Seashore Rangers helped look for him.
Helicopters, boats, jet skis, and shoreline observations were used in the search.
The Pamlico Sound runs from Portsmouth Island to the southern tip of the Outer Banks at Cape Lookout National Seashore.
According to the Outer Banks Visitor Guide, the saltwater lagoon is about 80 miles long and 15-20 miles wide. It’s also relatively shallow “with an average depth of about 5-6 feet or so, even well offshore.”
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 6:48 PM.
