CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. -- Two people have died after they were rescued from Crystal Coast beach on Tuesday.

  • They say on Tuesday, Austin Porter and Liam Okkerse got caught in a rip current in Crystal Coast's beach pulling them out into the ocean.
  • Later, rescuers on Jet Skis brought the two ashore.
  • This happened near the Oceanana Family Resort

On Tuesday, the Atlantic Beach Fire Department said 24-year-old Austin Potter and the 5-year-old son of his girlfriend, Liam Okkerse, got caught in a rip current in Crystal Coast's beach pulling them out into the ocean.

 

 

Both victims were reportedly unresponsive and not breathing.

Although both patients were transported to Carteret Health Care, efforts at resuscitation were unsuccessful. 

This happened near the Oceanana Family Resort.

Erin Peoples, Liam's mother and Austin's girlfriend, says her boyfriend died a hero trying to save her son.

She says the ocean was calm that day and yellow flags were flying. This makes five drownings between Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach in just a one-month time span.

A celebration of life is being held in honor of Austin Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Oceanana Pier on Atlantic Beach.