UPDATE: Deputies confirm Marine Fisheries employee drowned saving his coworker

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A state employee has died in an apparent drowning in Carteret County while saving his colleague.

Deputies say the Marine Fisheries employee was gathering water sample collections in Turnagain Bay near Sea Level this morning.

The employee has been identified as 52-year-old Marc Hamric, of Atlantic Beach.

Deputies say the boat Hamric and others were working from started to drift away. They say Hamric entered the water wearing waders as he tried to help his coworker who made it back to the boat but couldn’t get on. Hamric then took off his waders to swim back to shore for help, but he went underwater.

The victim was recovered from the water within minutes by coworkers, who began CPR.

Deputies say no foul play is suspected. The sheriff’s office, along with the North Carolina Marine Patrol, is investigating the death.

Last November, Hamric was named a North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Distinguished Employee Award winner. Today, he died a hero while helping his coworker in distress.