Three drownings in five days prompt water safety warnings in Beaufort County

A trio of drownings in Beaufort County over a five-day span has prompted local officials to renew calls for beachgoers to take water safety seriously, especially in the presence of rip currents and hazardous conditions.

The deaths occurred between June 30th and July 4th — two at Hunting Island State Park and one at Hilton Head Island’s Coligny Beach — during what local authorities describe as particularly dangerous water conditions along the coast.

On June 30th, 69-year-old William King of Georgia was pulled from the surf at Coligny Beach around 6:30 p.m. According to Shore Beach Service, a lifeguard on duty performed CPR before emergency crews arrived, but King was pronounced dead at the scene. The drowning happened near N. Forest Beach Drive on Hilton Head Island.

Just one day later, on July 1st, 65-year-old Steven Thackston of Decatur, Georgia, drowned while swimming off Hunting Island. A bystander fishing nearby noticed Thackston floating unresponsive in the water and pulled him to shore. Lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful, and Thackston was pronounced dead on scene, according to the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office.

On Independence Day, 38-year-old Paul Peters of Indian Trail, North Carolina, was swimming at Hunting Island with his 4-year-old son when both were swept into a rip current shortly before noon. Bystanders rushed into the water and were able to rescue the child, who was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Peters was pulled from the water unresponsive, and CPR efforts failed to revive him.

“It’s incredibly tragic, especially around a holiday weekend,” Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner said in an interview with a local news station. “This is a heartbreaking reminder of how dangerous the ocean can be, even for strong swimmers.”

The drowning incidents have focused attention on rip currents — narrow channels of fast-moving water that flow away from shore and can overwhelm swimmers in seconds. The National Weather Service estimates that more than 100 people die each year in the United States due to rip currents, making them one of the leading causes of ocean-related fatalities.

Authorities said a yellow flag was flying at Hunting Island on July 4th, signaling moderate hazards, including stronger surf and currents. While the flag does not prohibit swimming, it is meant to warn beachgoers to use caution, especially if they are not strong swimmers or are supervising young children.

“The yellow flag should always be taken seriously,” said Lt. Col. Angela Viens of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. “It doesn’t mean safe — it means proceed with caution.”

Local officials also urged residents and visitors to familiarize themselves with beach warning flags, which indicate daily water conditions. A green flag means calm conditions and low risk, yellow signals moderate hazard, and red indicates high hazard, such as strong currents or surf. Purple flags are used to warn of marine pests like jellyfish or stingrays.

In addition to understanding warning flags, the sheriff’s office urged beachgoers not to underestimate the ocean and to avoid risky behavior such as swimming alone, consuming alcohol before swimming, or relying on inflatables for safety.

If someone is caught in a rip current, swimmers are advised to remain calm, swim parallel to shore until free of the current, and then swim back to land at an angle. If unable to escape, they should float or tread water and signal for help.

Authorities also stressed that untrained bystanders should not enter the water to attempt rescues. Instead, they should call 911, alert a lifeguard if present, and attempt to throw a flotation device if available.

“These tragic events show how quickly things can go wrong in the water,” Tanner said. “We’re urging everyone: please respect the ocean, know the risks, and take steps to keep yourselves and your families safe.”

Local safety officials recommend always using the buddy system rather than swimming alone, keeping children within arm’s reach, and avoiding alcohol before or during swimming. Swimmers should stay out of the water during red flag conditions, avoid relying on floats or inflatables for safety, remain within their depth, and be aware of their physical limits.

Beachgoers are also urged to check surf and weather conditions in advance or consult with a lifeguard before entering the water.

Real-time surf advisories and rip current forecasts are available from the National Weather Service at weather.gov/chs. Additional updates and safety information are also available from Shore Beach Service.

Beaufort County officials said they plan to continue working with state park staff and beach patrols to increase public awareness about ocean safety, especially during the height of the tourist season.