Cornelius man, long-time best friend drown in Emerald Isle

EMERALD ISLE, N.C. — A Cornelius man and his long-time best friend died Sunday after drowning in Emerald Isle.

WTVD reported that 72-year-old James Howard Burton of Cornelius was having trouble in the water so his long-time best friend 73-year-old John C. Emerline of Raleigh hopped in to save him.

Neither of them made it out of the water alive.

Officials said four surfers and a lifeguard tried to rescue the men on a strand of beach near Ship Wreck Lane, but were unsuccessful.

Emerline’s son, Mike, told WTVD that his dad was a New Jersey beach lifeguard when he was in his early 20s. He was a good swimmer, as was most of his family.

Mike said his dad and Burton had been friends since college.

Beachgoers form human chain to pull people out of water at Emerald Isle Beachgoers form human chain to pull people out of water at Emerald Isle

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