Nicole Woods, the University of North Carolina Wilmington basketball coach, nearly lost her life last week while attempting to rescue her 8‑year‑old nephew from a rip current at Wrightsville Beach.
A Family Day Turns Perilous
Woods had taken her daughters, a 10‑month‑old and a 15‑year‑old, along with her niece and nephew, both eight, to the beach for a family outing.
When the nephew entered the water, a sudden rip current caught him, and he began to panic. Woods, seeing his distress, sprinted into the surf to pull him to safety.
The two struggled against the current for several minutes, growing increasingly exhausted. At one point Woods managed to push her nephew toward a nearby lifeguard, but the water’s grip pulled her under.
A rescue team eventually pulled both out of the ocean. Woods was found not breathing and without a pulse; paramedics immediately began chest compressions and applied an AED, restoring her heartbeat.
She was rushed to Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where doctors placed her on a ventilator in the intensive care unit. After several days, she awoke with no cognitive impairment and was later given a clean bill of health.
Now recovered, Woods has chosen to share her story publicly, hoping to raise awareness about the deceptive power of rip currents and the importance of beach safety.