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Hickory man drowns at North Carolina beach

Coastal officials are warning people to use extreme caution after a man drowned at an Oak Island beach in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Colin.

OAK ISLAND, N.C. — One man is dead after officials said he drowned Sunday at a North Carolina coastal beach.

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The Oak Island Water Rescue, fire department, and police department were called to a beach access location around Sunday at 2:04 p.m. in reference to a swimmer in distress.

Bystanders pulled the swimmer to shore and attempted CPR before the rescue crew arrived. Life-saving measures were attempted but were unsuccessful. 

Kevin Whitley, a 52-year-old man from Hickory, NC, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release.

Oak Island officials said more than half a dozen similar calls were made in the area on Sunday. Remnants from Tropical Storm Colin's impact were causing rough surf conditions on the Carolina coast.

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The conditions have caused the Oak Island Water Rescue to display a red flag, which asks beachgoers to stay out of the water for safety reasons. Oak Island encourages visitors to plan ahead of their trips to the beach by checking conditions in the area.

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