A Kenly man drowned Tuesday after being caught in a rip current at Atlantic Beach.
The Atlantic Beach Police Department said the incident happened at 1:45pm Tuesday near the 700 block of East Fort Macon Road.
Family and friends identified the victim as Austin “Catfish” Potter of Kenly. Potter was a 2013 graduate of North Johnston High School.
Potter reportedly got in the water when he saw a boy struggling in a rip current. They could not make it back to the shore.
A rescue swimmer and an individual on a jet ski helped pull the two victims from the water. Both were pronounced dead a short time later at Carteret Health Care.
According to ABC11, Potter loved to fish and had a heart of gold.
The name of the second victim has not been released.
