Authorities in Onslow County have confirmed that a body recovered in the water near Sneads Ferry on Monday morning has been preliminarily identified as missing swimmer Marquest Andre Page Jr.
According to the Town of North Topsail Beach, Onslow County Communications received a call at approximately 10:40 a.m. on Monday, June 8, from a boater reporting a deceased person in the water near Canal Drive in Sneads Ferry. Officers with the North Topsail Beach Police Department responded to the scene and made a preliminary identification of the individual as Page.
Officials said Page was transported to the Onslow County Medical Examiner’s Office for positive identification.
The discovery follows several days of search efforts after Page went missing on Monday afternoon during a water rescue incident. Authorities previously reported that Page entered the water to assist a child caught in a strong current. While he was able to bring the child to safety, he was subsequently swept away and disappeared beneath the water.
A coordinated search effort involving multiple agencies was launched shortly after, spanning air, land, and water operations. Drones, boats, jet skis, and shoreline patrols were deployed as crews searched the area around North Topsail Beach Access 3 and surrounding waterways known for dangerous currents and past drowning incidents.
As conditions and time progressed, officials transitioned the search into a recovery operation, stating it was increasingly unlikely the swimmer would be found alive. On June 5, the Town of North Topsail Beach announced that active search efforts would be suspended at 6 p.m., citing exhausted resources and difficult conditions, while noting that periodic monitoring of the area would continue.
Officials extended condolences to Page’s family and thanked all assisting agencies for their efforts during the search.
The North Topsail Beach Police Department continues to handle the investigation, and further questions are being directed to their office at 910-328-0042. The final identification from the Medical Examiner’s Office is pending.
