Tuesday’s recovery near Oak Island’s west end underscores the inlet’s shifting hazards and unpredictable currents.
Oak Island, NC — A local rescue captain was photographed flipping a capsized vessel back upright in Lockwood Folly Inlet Tuesday afternoon, marking the second boating incident in as many days near the west end of Oak Island.
T‑Boat Captain Schollaert maneuvered his red rescue craft to secure and right the overturned vessel after it rolled in breaking waves at “the Point,” a popular but notoriously tricky stretch of water where the inlet meets the ocean. The vessel was towed to safety.
The recovery followed Monday’s capsizing that drew multiple agencies, including Oak Island Water Rescue, Ocean Rescue, Tri‑Beach Volunteer Fire Department, and the U.S. Coast Guard to the same area. Officials say the inlet’s constantly shifting shoals and strong tidal flow make it one of the most unpredictable waterways along the Brunswick County coast.
Even experienced boaters can get caught off guard and conditions change fast, and what looks calm can turn dangerous in minutes.
The Lockwood Folly inlet has long been a focus of local safety efforts, with crews reminding boaters to check tide charts, avoid crossing on low water, and wear flotation gear at all times. The inlet’s narrow channel and sandbar formations often move after storms or high surf, creating hidden drop‑offs and breaking waves that can flip small craft.
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