Search for lacking North Topsail Beach swimmer now restoration effort

NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, N.C. (WITN) – The seek for a person lacking after serving to rescue a baby from the ocean Monday at North Topsail Beach is now a restoration effort.

North Topsail Beach hearth and police personnel had been referred to as to Beach Access 3 round 2:30 p.m. yesterday.

Bystanders on the seashore reported that 24-year-old Marquest Page Jr. went into the water to rescue a baby who had floated out too far.

The little one, whom his household says is Page’s stepdaughter, received again to shore, however the man was overcome by the present.

“Definitely praying for a miracle,” mentioned Page’s sister, who got here to the coast after listening to what occurred.

The little one was taken to the hospital together with one other member of the family, based on officers.

Search efforts resumed Tuesday for the lacking man, who’s from Laurinburg. “Today we’re back out conducting search and recovery,” mentioned Fire Chief Chad Soward. “We’re in recovery mode now trying to locate the person.”

First responders from a number of companies responded to the decision at Beach Access 3, which has a number of indicators posted that say no swimming.

Interim North Topsail Beach Police Chief Andrew Page mentioned that entry can have harmful circumstances, with depths reaching round 30 ft and a powerful present.

“I did a story right before Memorial Day. We did a PSA and put this out and said, ‘Look folks, if you’re going to come out here, we understand you may know how to swim, this is not a pool nor a river, and you need to be cautious,’ and I specifically called out beach access three,” Page mentioned.

Personnel from North Topsail Beach Fire Department, North Topsail Beach Police Department, Turkey Creek Fire Department, Camp Lejeune Fire Department, and Onslow County Emergency Services are helping within the search.

Assets deployed included jet skis, boats, sonar, swimmers, and drones.

The search expanded up and down the shoreline Tuesday, with a number of boats within the water and drones within the air offering an aerial view.

Chief Page mentioned crews are working to assist the household.

“Obviously, they’re distraught, we’re doing everything we can to support them, and we’re going to stay out here until we can get some kind of closure,” Page mentioned.