MYRTLE BEACH — A North Carolina man drowned in Myrtle Beach over the weekend, making it the second drowning this month in the city.
Roosevelt Robinson, 33, of Raeford, N.C., died at the Grand Strand Medical Center after being pulled from the ocean near 22nd Avenue South in Myrtle Beach just before noon June 26, according to officials.
The case was ruled an accidental drowning. The Myrtle Beach Police Department is investigating the incident.
This is the second reported drowning incident to take place in Myrtle Beach this month. During the first incident, Yannick Dbumeni-Ndaleu of Silver Springs, Md., was celebrating his 21st birthday, according to his family, when he went missing after he helped another swimmer pull his son from what was described as a rip current.
Dbumeni-Ndaleu went missing near Seventh Avenue North in Myrtle Beach at about 3:20 p.m. June 13, and his body washed ashore near 54th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach at about 3:30 a.m. June 14.
Dbumeni-Ndaleu’s family is raising money through GoFundMe to return his body to Cameroon, the country where he was born. More than $35,000 has been raised through the fundraiser as of June 27.
Rip currents are a type of current that can occur near beaches with breaking waves, and a person caught in a rip current can be swept away from shore very quickly, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The National Weather Service recommends that the public check water conditions before entering the water near a beach, and to only swim at a beach with lifeguards.
"Great weather for the beach does not always mean it's safe to swim or even play in the shallows," according to the weather service. "Rip currents often form on calm, sunny days."
Horry County Fire Rescue receives approximately 50 drowning-related calls every year, with summer being the busiest season for that type of call. County officials advise parents and adults to pay full attention to everyone around them, especially children, while spending time around water.
"Having responsible adults who have a set and practiced emergency plan is a big help," said Tony Casey, Horry County Fire Rescue public information officer. "Knowing how to perform CPR in the event of a medical emergency like a drowning, having a cellphone handy and having someone immediately calling 911 with the correct location information can go a long way, and even save a life."
With the Fourth of July holiday weekend approaching, tens of thousands of people are expected to flock to Horry County to spend time at the beach. Officials advised incoming visitors to talk about and practice what they will do in the case of a drowning or other emergency incident.
"Make sure everyone in your party knows the full address in the event they have to call 911 and relay that potentially life-saving information," Casey said.
There are an estimated 3,960 fatal unintentional drownings in the country every year, or an average of 11 drowning deaths per day, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
