Faison Child Drowns at North Topsail Beach, Father Hospitalized

NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, N.C. (AP) — Officials say a 5-year-old child drowned at North Topsail Beach over the weekend and his father has been hospitalized.

News outlets report town officials say the incident happened Saturday night. The names of the man and child have not been released pending family notification. North Topsail Beach Assistant Town Manager Carin Faulkner says the father and son are from Faison. The town's mayor, Fred Burns, says police were patrolling the area when they discovered the drowning and dispatched emergency crews.

Burns says the father and son were in the water, out in the inlet, where the tide was going out.

The child was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Faulkner says the father was taken to a hospital, where he is still receiving medical attention.