Leading federal meteorologist drowns in rough N. Carolina surf forecasters had warned about [View all]
Leading federal meteorologist drowns in rough N. Carolina surf forecasters had warned about
William Lapenta, director of a National Weather Service division under the NOAA, drowned in waters where dangerous conditions had been forecast.
Oct. 3, 2019, 9:48 AM EDT
By Elisha Fieldstadt
The director of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration division for predicting weather died Monday in North Carolina while swimming in dangerous conditions that federal forecasters had warned about.
William Lapenta, head of the NOAA‘s National Centers for Environmental Prediction, drowned Monday while swimming at Pelican Way beach in the town of Duck, according to a statement from the town's director of public information, Christian Legner.
An off-duty ocean rescue supervisor spotted Lapenta, 58, struggling in the ocean, and lifeguards responded within minutes to pull the scientist from the water, the statement said. He was unresponsive.
Emergency responders tried to save Lapenta, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
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