Troy E. Strickland died July 25, 2018, while attempting to save a girl from drowning in the Atlantic Ocean off of Emerald Isle, N.C. Strickland, 41, public defender’s office investigator of Scottsburg, Va., entered the ocean after seeing a girl shouting for help and waving her arms in the air. Despite warning red flags, dangerous surf and rip current warnings, and being verbally urged to stay on shore, Strickland swam to the girl, who was about 125 feet from shore. Strickland ultimately disappeared from view and submerged. Lifeguards shortly entered the water and removed Strickland and the girl. The girl was given oxygen at the scene; she was not injured. Strickland could not be revived. He had drowned.
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