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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.
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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.

·New York, United States
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WECT News broke the news on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
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