A Near‑Drowning That Turned Into a Miracle
On a sunny afternoon at Wrightsville Beach, Nicole Woods, the head coach of the UNC Wilmington women’s basketball team, spotted her eight‑year‑old nephew struggling against a rip current. Without hesitation she entered the water, battling the surge until both she and her nephew were hauled to shore by a group of bystanders.
The rescue team immediately began chest compressions when they realized Woods had stopped breathing and her heart had ceased beating. An automated external defibrillator was applied, delivering a shock that restored her pulse, a moment that medical personnel later described as a literal return from the brink.
Both mother and child were rushed to Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where Woods was placed in the intensive care unit and kept on a ventilator for at least a day. During that time she communicated with her wife by scribbling short notes, a testament to her mental clarity despite the ordeal.
After a brief but intense recovery period, doctors confirmed that Woods had emerged with no cognitive impairment and a clean bill of health. She is now back at home, focusing on rehabilitation and the upcoming basketball season.
UNC Wilmington Athletics issued a statement expressing gratitude for the swift response of rescuers and relief that Woods is on the mend, while also announcing that associate head coach Cherie Lea will assume interim leadership of the program during Woods’ absence.
Woods, who is entering her third campaign with the Seahawks in the 2025‑26 season, has used the experience to warn swimmers of all skill levels about the hidden danger of rip currents, urging vigilance even among strong swimmers.