Nicole Woods, the head coach of the UNCW women’s basketball team, found herself in a life‑threatening situation last week when she rushed into the surf at Wrightsville Beach to rescue her nephew, who had been pulled out by a rip current.
The boy, whose name has not been released, was caught in the current and struggled to stay afloat. Woods entered the water despite the dangerous conditions, but the current proved stronger than anticipated.
A Community Responds
Lifeguards on duty spotted the distress and pulled both Woods and her nephew from the water. While the nephew did not survive, Woods was left motionless and required immediate resuscitation.
Emergency crews administered CPR and successfully revived Woods, who was then transported to a nearby hospital for observation. She is now reported to be on the road to recovery and has expressed gratitude toward the first responders.
The incident has reignited conversations about the importance of lifeguard presence at popular beaches and the need for swimmers to respect rip currents. Local officials are urging beachgoers to heed posted warnings and to consider learning basic water‑safety techniques.