Swimmer vanishes while trying to save child who drifted from beach, NC town says

A man who was trying to rescue a child has gone missing in the Atlantic Ocean off the North Carolina, according to searchers.

It happened around 2:30 p.m. Monday at North Topsail Beach, and the child was eventually brought to shore by another family member, officials say.

“Witnesses reported that the victim, Marquest Andre Page Jr., 24, of Laurinburg, was attempting to retrieve a child who had floated out too far and became overcome by the current himself,” North Topsail Beach officials reported in a June 1 Facebook post.

“The child was recovered and transported, along with another family member, to the hospital for treatment.”

Their identities and details of their conditions were not released.

Maps show the incident happened off a beach adjacent to the New River Inlet.

Multiple fire departments and Onslow County Emergency Services searched for Page until 7 p.m. Monday, when weather conditions became unsafe, officials said.

The search was scheduled to continue Tuesday, including the use of drones, officials said.

Rip currents are a frequent cause of fatalities off North Carolina beaches. The currents “are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water” that drag swimmers out to sea at speeds of up to eight feet per second, NOAA Ocean Service reports.

North Topsail Beach is about a 140-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh.

This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Swimmer vanishes while trying to save child who drifted from beach, NC town says."