CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A retired Charlotte police officer broke his neck on the same Carolina beach where a father of six has died. His family is speaking with Spectrum News about the dangers and how he wants to prevent others from facing the same risks.

  • John Diggs says he broke his neck when a wave came close to shore and smashed him against the sand
  • It happened July 11 at Oak Island beach
  • It's the same situation that happened to a Raleigh dad just one week later, who died of his injuries

Retired Charlotte-Mecklenburg police major John Diggs says he broke his neck when a wave came close to shore and smashed him against the sand. It happened July 11 at Oak Island beach.

It's the same situation that happened to a Raleigh dad just one week later, who died of his injuries. Families of both men say they were hit by a powerful wave.

“[I have] great sadness for that family, and I try to keep them in my prayers," Diggs says. "It also scared me to think you know wow that could've been that bad for me, too. You know. And I know you know more than anything else, I know I'm lucky, I know I'm blessed.”

He says his doctors say there doesn't appear to be any permanent nerve damage. He will be in his neck brace for several weeks. He also says he wants to see a sign put up at the beach, warning people waves break close to the shore and could cause injury.