NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, N.C. (WNCN) — The rip current risk remained high Wednesday in North Topsail Beach as Hurricane Erin moved farther north in the Atlantic.

The National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory in the area. Large, breaking waves of six to 12 feet were predicted in the surf zone where ocean rescue officials said the rough surf fuels the dangerous rip currents.

A handful of surfers braved the roaring water to hang onto the waves. Surfer Terrance Alexander of Sneads Ferry, with 20 years of surfing experience, said he had to hang on for dear life after getting caught in a dangerous rip current.

“I was surfing right out here and got caught in a riptide on my surfboard," he said. "The wave was going out [one] way and a wave was coming [another] way, which is an indication

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