Rescuers searched the Atlantic Ocean off Corolla for nearly four hours after a group of swimmers became distressed in rough surf Saturday afternoon. Three of them made it out of the water, but a 12-year-old Maryland boy did not, launching a dramatic and ultimately tragic search along a beach crowded with summer vacationers.
Dispatchers received a 911 call at 12:40 p.m. Saturday reporting “multiple individuals in distress” in the water near the end of Persimmon Street, Currituck County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief Ralph Melton said.
Ocean rescue lifeguards from Bismark Street were already in the water when the call came in and additional lifeguards were deployed. By 12:42 p.m., fire and EMS was dispatched to assist.
“The ocean rescue shift supervisor confirmed that one swimmer was unaccounted for and presumed submerged,” Melton said. He identified the boy as Amir Abou, who lived with his family in Woodbine, Maryland, a community west of Baltimore and east of Frederick.
Currituck Fire and EMS Capt. Bob Pugh deployed more than 20 lifeguards and a jet ski while the Coast Guard dispatched an MH-60 helicopter, which performed search patterns until 4 p.m. Meanwhile, rescue workers were “strategically positioned on beach access stairs” for an elevated spot to look for the boy, and to keep an eye on rescue swimmers in the water, Melton said. Other rescue crews prepared to take Abou as a patient if he was found. In all, more than 50 first responders were called into action for the search.
At 4:10 p.m., lifeguards conducting a line search on shore located Abou in the water.
Coast Guard ends search for 12-year-old boy pulled under water off Corolla beach
“He was immediately moved to an ambulance positioned on the beach for assessment and potential treatment,” Melton said. But the boy had been submerged for about three and a half hours and no resuscitation efforts were initiated. He was pronounced dead at 4:16 p.m.
The National Weather Service forecast for Saturday called for a moderate risk of rip currents along Outer Banks beaches.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim during this difficult time,” Melton said.
