UNC-Wilmington Women's Basketball Coach Says She's Fortunate to Be Alive After Nearly Drowning
First responders revived Nicole Woods after a rip current pulled her and her 8-year-old nephew under, and doctors said she has a clean bill of health.
- Last Thursday, UNCW women's basketball coach Nicole Woods nearly drowned while rescuing her 8-year-old nephew from a rip current at Wrightsville Beach during a family outing.
- When her nephew was knocked underwater by a wave despite Woods' earlier warning not to turn his back to the waves, she rushed in to save him, but the rip current pulled both of them farther out to sea.
- Realizing rescuers could grab only one person, Woods deliberately pushed her nephew toward help, saying "it was to save my nephew first" before losing consciousness as "a suction cup" pulled her under.
- Rescue teams pulled both from the ocean, but Woods was unresponsive with no heartbeat; paramedics performed CPR for five minutes, then used an AED to restore her pulse before rushing her to Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
- After spending at least 24 hours on a ventilator, Woods received a clean bill of health with no brain injuries and is now recovering at home; associate head coach Cherie Lea is managing team operations during her recovery.
25 Articles
25 Articles
UNC-Wilmington women's basketball coach says she's fortunate to be alive after nearly drowning
UNC Wilmington women's basketball coach Nicole Woods says she's lucky to be alive after being caught in a rip current.
UNCW basketball's Nicole Woods nearly drowns in beach accident
Friends become heroes in Wrightsville Beach rip current rescue
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Three friends helped save a prominent local sports figure from a rip current at Wrightsville Beach last week. Ryan Gillespie, Giuseppe Marturano, and Dashaun Brown said they were preparing for a beach soccer tournament on Thursday, May 21st, near Shell Island on the north end of the beach, when they heard cries for help to get a young boy and an adult woman caught in a rip current. “You kinda just gotta go with yo…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 68% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium











