MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) – It’s been a busy summer for ocean rescues in the Myrtle Beach area, apparently because of more swimmers in the water and a season plagued by rip currents.
Local media outlets report at least three ocean drownings this summer while two more swimmers are missing.
Duke Brown, the safety director for the Horry County Beach Patrol, tells The Sun News that more people seem to be swimming in the ocean and staying in the water longer.
There have also been more rip currents.
Paul Gayes of Coastal Carolina University says that may have to do with storms last fall building offshore sandbars. When water punches through the bars, it creates rip currents.
Two boys, ages 14 and 12, are missing after being caught in rip currents earlier this summer.
