UNCW head women's basketball coach Nicole Woods will recover at home after nearly drowning while saving her 8-year-old nephew from a rip current last week at Wrightsville Beach, WECT reported.
First responders resuscitated Woods after she said she lost her pulse, and doctors have since given her a clean bill of health following a brief stay on a ventilator in the ICU.
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Last Thursday, Woods took her daughters, a 10-month-old and a 15-year-old, along with a niece and a nephew, both 8 years old, to Wrightsville Beach.
It was supposed to be a fun family day. Her nephew wanted to go swim in the ocean, and she let him go in but told him to make sure he did not turn his back to the waves.
Woods said when he turned his back, a wave immediately sent him underwater, and she rushed in to save him.
“We got caught in a rip current. I saw help coming. After trying to get out for several minutes, we were both tired,” Woods said. “When I saw the gentleman coming, I went under the water to push my nephew to the help because I knew he couldn’t get both of us.
“And so me going under the water and pushing him up towards the help would make the decision for him—to save my nephew first. By then it felt like a suction cup pulling me under, and that’s the last thing I remember.”
A rescue team pulled Woods and her nephew out of the ocean and onto the shore, but she wasn’t breathing and didn’t have a heartbeat.
“They did chest compressions on me for five minutes, then used the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) to shock my heart,” Woods said. “And that’s when they got a pulse.”
Woods’ daughter and niece watched in horror as paramedics worked to bring her back to life. She and her nephew were rushed to Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Her nephew was admitted overnight for observation.
“I was on a ventilator for at least a day,” Woods said. “I couldn’t talk but I could communicate by writing words to my wife. The doctor said I was able to breathe on my own when they took me off the ventilator. It was a miracle.”
Woods said she wanted to share her story in hopes of saving someone else’s life.
“I’m a very strong swimmer and if this can happen to me, it can happen to anyone,” Woods said.
Woods says doctors have told her that, despite being underwater for several minutes, she did not suffer any cognitive impairment and that they have given her a clean bill of health.
UNCW Athletics released the following statement about the incident:
“UNCW Athletics is aware of a water-related incident involving Women’s Basketball Head Coach Nicole Woods,” the statement reads. “Our thoughts are with Nicole and her family as she focuses on her recovery. Out of respect for her privacy, we will not have further comment at this time. “
In the meantime, team operations will continue under the leadership of Associate Head Coach Cherie Lea.
Woods was in the process of release from the hospital and will continue her recovery at home.
