UNCW coach Nicole Woods nearly drowned rescuing nephew from rip current, had to be revived: 'It was a miracle'
Nicole Woods, the women's basketball coach at UNCW, nearly drowned while rescuing her nephew from a rip current at Wrightsville Beach. After being revived by first responders, she is now recovering at home and considers her survival a miracle. The incident highlights the dangers of ocean swimming, even for strong swimmers like Woods.
- ▪Nicole Woods was trying to rescue her nephew from a rip current when she nearly drowned.
- ▪Multiple bystanders jumped in to help, but the situation quickly became dangerous for them as well.
- ▪First responders revived Woods after she was found submerged and not breathing, using chest compressions and an AED.
- ▪Woods was placed on a ventilator in the ICU but has since been taken off and is recovering without cognitive impairment.
- ▪UNCW's athletics department has appointed associate head coach Cherie Lea to manage team operations during Woods' recovery.
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UNC Wilmington women's basketball coach Nicole Woods had to be revived after nearly drowning while trying to rescue her young nephew from some powerful waves in Wrightsville Beach, N.C., last week. She said it was a "miracle" that she survived and is now recovering at home. "I'm a very strong swimmer and if this can happen to me, it can happen to anyone," Woods, 41, told local TV station WECT.The incident happened on May 21 while on a family beach outing. She was there with her two daughters, who are 15 years old and 10 months old, along with her niece and nephew, who are both 8 years old. Woods told her nephew he could swim in the ocean but warned him to be careful and not turn his back to the waves. When he made the mistake of turning away, a wave swept him under the water.
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