Beach-goers in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, formed a human chain to rescue swimmers from rough surf on Wednesday, video showed.
The Town of Emerald Isle urged people to stay out of the ocean due to dangerous surf conditions after a 41-year-old man drowned. The town began warning people on Sunday about the red flag conditions.
Video taken by witness Shane Gentry shows dozens of people as they link arms on the shore, ushering people to safety.
Lifeguards and the fire department also had to rescue several individuals from the ocean, a town official told ABC News.
(MORE: Good Samaritans form human chain to rescue swimmers caught in rip current off Florida coast)The official hypothesized that people wanted to take advantage of the sun after rainy weather plagued the area.
(MORE: Family says 'thank you' to the 'angels' who formed human chain to rescue them off Florida coast)"The sun came out," the official said, "and I suspect that some folks had cabin fever, despite red flags."