Overview
- A swimmer who pulled a young girl from a rip current near 10th Avenue South was then pulled underwater and has not been located, according to Myrtle Beach police and fire officials.
- Police and fire crews increased their presence on the shore and are actively searching the water for the missing rescuer.
- Reports say the U.S. Coast Guard was called in to assist and witnesses described a helicopter grid search with spotlights and thermal sensors, though that detail comes from eyewitness accounts.
- Authorities have not released the rescuer’s name and officials have not confirmed eyewitness descriptions of the person’s gender or other identifying details.
- Rip currents are fast and deadly hazards and the episode occurred after lifeguards had left the beach, a timing that heightens the risk and often leads local teams to seek federal search support.