By admin 
NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, N.C. (WNCT) — A water rescue last week at North Topsail Beach’s Access Three is serving as a reminder that the inlet is a no-swimming zone.
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The rescue happened last Friday at the northern end of the island at Beach Access Three, sending a woman nearly a mile away from shore. With the help of North Topsail Beach crews and aerial support from MCAS New River, the woman was safely rescued.
“We want you to stay out of the water at Beach Access Three, and we want you to use commonsense safety practices when you’re in the ocean, just in general,” North Topsail Beach Police Chief Andrew Page said.
The rescue comes just three weeks after 24-year-old Marquest Page Jr. died at the same inlet while trying to save his stepdaughter. The dangerous area is the New River Inlet.
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“The inlet is designed for boating. It is not designed for swimming. It is an active boating channel,” said North Topsail Beach Fire Chief Chad Soward. “You’ll step off the side, and it could be 12 feet, and it could be 30 feet just depending on where you step off. The currents are anywhere from five knots to 20 plus knots, depending on the time of day.”
There are signs advising against swimming at the access, but there are concerns over their visibility, specifically near the entrance.
“We’re consolidating signs so there’s less signs to look at,” Page said. “When you’re coming up there for the first time, you’ll have time to read the signs and actually see what the issues are before you get to the inlet.”
There’s also a warning about swimming when visitors go to pay to park online.