MISSING PERSON

CONTACT INFORMATION:
North Topsail Beach Police Department
910-328-0042

RELEASE DATE: 10/09/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On 10-08-25 at approximately 4:20 pm Onslow County Dispatch notified North Topsail Beach Police and Fire about a call for an Ocean Rescue at 484 New River Inlet Rd., Beach Access #4. Police Officers arrived within minutes along with Fire and EMS. Several young men were swimming and had gone out to a nearby sandbar at Low Tide. As the tide was coming in, they started to make their way back to shore and found themselves fighting against a Rip Current. All the young men except one made it to shore, some with much difficulty, and relayed seeing the victim struggling and going under as they were attempting to get to shore. No one was able to make it to him and all units began a search of the area. Police deployed a drone that was on scene and started a grid search of the area, for more than 2 hours. Fire deployed a jet ski, and all units began a search of the beach. US Coast guard deployed a boat, set a buoy, and started a grid search. A Coast guard Helicopter arrived and searched the area until after dark. Throughout the night units searched the beach area. At daylight a more intense search began on the beach area for several miles, along with drone flights. The search for the missing teen continues who is a 17-year-old male from the Jacksonville NC area.

All questions can be directed to the Town of North Topsail Beach Police Department at 910-328-0042.