Moyock man dies after suffering ‘medical emergency’ in water near Jennette’s Pier Sunday afternoon

The south side of Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head (File photo by Corinne Saunders)

By Corinne Saunders

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NAGS HEAD — A Moyock man died after suffering an unspecified “medical emergency” in the water near Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head on Sunday afternoon, according to information provided Monday by the Town of Nags Head.

“The victim has been identified as Michael Anthony Karousos, 33, of Moyock, North

Carolina,” the release said. “Preliminary information indicates the incident was the result of a medical emergency. No foul play is suspected.”

Karousos is a commissioned U.S. Coast Guard officer, according to a source with personal knowledge and according to Karousos’ LinkedIn profile.

Nags Head Police and Fire personnel responded to a call at approximately 1:34 p.m. reporting a man in distress at the water’s edge about 40 yards south of Jennette’s Pier, located in the 7200 block of South Virginia Dare Trail, according to the release.

“There was somebody in the water that had a medical emergency, so they [staff] actually are down on the beach working the call,” Dare County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Chief Jennie Collins told Outer Banks Insider in a phone call shortly after 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Collins was unable to provide more information at the time due to medical privacy laws.

Several eyewitnesses told Outer Banks Insider that the man was a surfer wearing a wetsuit. Video footage recorded from the pier that was shared with Outer Banks Insider showed a surfer in a wetsuit carrying his board and walking from the ocean toward the beach on the south side of the pier. He collapsed into what appeared to be less-than-knee-deep water at approximately 1:32 p.m.

Two people went to him and pulled him toward the beach, then were joined by a third person. One person did chest compressions, and then first responders arrived, pulled him all the way out of the surf zone and did chest compressions, the footage shows.

“Along with Dare County EMS, Nags Head responders continued the life-saving measures

initiated by bystanders,” the release said. “The individual was transferred to the care of Dare County EMS and was later pronounced deceased.”

The town in its release extended “its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic event” and also thanked the bystanders who assisted and called 911.

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