‘We got caught in a rip current’: Basketball coach risks life in effort to rescue 8-year-old nephew

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT/Gray News) - A women’s basketball coach says it’s a miracle she’s alive after nearly drowning during a family outing at Wrightsville Beach.

Last Thursday, University of North Carolina Wilmington Coach Nicole Woods said she had taken her daughters, a 10-month-old and a 15-year-old, along with her niece and nephew, both 8 years old, to the beach in what was supposed to be a fun family day.

Woods’ nephew wanted to swim in the ocean, and she said she let him go in but told him to make sure he did not turn his back to the waves.

According to Woods, when he turned his back, a wave immediately sent him underwater, and she rushed in to save him.

“He was panicking. We got caught in a rip current. I saw help coming. After trying to get out for several minutes, we were both tired,” she said. “When I saw a gentleman coming, I went under the water to push my nephew toward the help.”

Woods said she knew she couldn’t get both of them out.

“With me going under the water and pushing him up towards the help ... it was to save my nephew first,” she said. “Then it felt like a suction cup pulling me under, and that’s the last thing I remember.”

Woods was lifeless. A rescue team ended up pulling her and her nephew out of the ocean and onto the shore, but she wasn’t breathing and didn’t have a heartbeat.

“They did chest compressions on me for five minutes, then used the AED [automated external defibrillator] to shock my heart. And that’s when they got a pulse.”

Woods’ daughter and niece watched in horror as paramedics worked to bring her back to life. She and her nephew were rushed to Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Woods’ nephew was admitted overnight for observation. She, however, was placed on a ventilator in the intensive care unit.

“I was on a ventilator for at least a day. I couldn’t talk, but I could communicate by writing words to my wife,” she said. “The doctor said I was able to breathe on my own when they took me off the ventilator. It was a miracle.”

Woods said she wanted to share her story in hopes of spreading the word of rip current dangers.

“I’m a very strong swimmer and if this can happen to me, it can happen to anyone,: she said.

Woods says doctors have told her that, despite being underwater for several minutes, she did not suffer any cognitive impairment and that they have given her a clean bill of health.

“Our thoughts are with Nicole and her family as she focuses on her recovery,” UNCW Athletics said in a statement.