NASH COUNTY, N.C. — Dale Griffin, director of Nash County Emergency Medical Services, died after drowning Saturday near Shackleford Banks, Beaufort officials and Nash County EMS confirmed.
The department announced Griffin’s death in a Facebook post, describing him as “far more than the title he carried,” and detailing his longtime role as a paramedic, mentor and leader within the region’s EMS community. The department said colleagues and agencies from across the area held a procession in his honor the next day.
Agency statement and community response
In its social media announcement, Nash County EMS highlighted Griffin’s professional and personal impact on the department:
“Director Griffin was far more than the title he carried. He was a paramedic, a leader, a mentor, a friend, and a steady presence to generations of EMS professionals who had the privilege of serving alongside him. He dedicated his life to caring for others and to making Nash County EMS a department its employees and community could be proud of.”
The department added that Griffin led with “experience, loyalty, humor, and a genuine love for the people around him,” and that his legacy would live on in the people he mentored and the patients whose lives he touched.
Officials confirm drowning
Beaufort County officials confirmed Griffin drowned near Shackleford Banks, a barrier island off the state’s coast. No additional details about the circumstances of the drowning were released in the department’s post or by Beaufort authorities in the notices available to the public.
Regional impact and public safety note
Griffin’s death comes as a loss to the regional emergency services community. Nash County EMS noted that Griffin invested in employees’ training and growth, celebrated successes, and supported personnel during difficult calls. The procession organized the day after his death drew personnel from neighboring departments, reflecting long-standing professional ties among area EMS agencies.
- Name: Dale Griffin
- Position: Director, Nash County EMS
- Location of incident: Near Shackleford Banks (Beaufort County area)
- Community response: Interdepartmental procession held the next day
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Agency | Nash County EMS |
| Incident | Drowning |
| Location | Near Shackleford Banks |
| Follow-up | Procession involving regional emergency services |
The available statements emphasize Griffin’s decades of service and the formative role he played in shaping the county’s emergency response capabilities. They do not provide additional operational details about his tenure, specific initiatives he led, or a timeline of his service.
What officials have released and what remains unknown
Public statements from Nash County EMS and Beaufort officials confirm the location and nature of the incident and pay tribute to Griffin’s contributions. The releases do not include specifics such as the precise circumstances that led to the drowning, whether there were witnesses, or if any recovery or investigative actions were ongoing.
In cases involving drownings on barrier islands and coastal waters, responders and local authorities typically investigate scene conditions, tides and weather, but no such details were provided in the department’s announcement.
For the community, the department’s posts focused on remembrance and the emotional impact of losing a leader. Nash County EMS said Griffin’s influence “cannot be measured simply in years of service” but will endure through those he trained and supported.
WE NEWS will update this report as additional information becomes available from Beaufort County officials, Nash County EMS or other authorities involved in the response and any subsequent investigation.
