DATE: Thursday, July 17, 1997               TAG: 9707170510

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 

DATELINE: OCRACOKE                          LENGTH:   18 lines

OFFICIALS IDENTIFY DROWNING VICTIM AS RALEIGH 17-YEAR-OLD

Authorities have identified the 17-year-old swimmer who drowned Sunday off this Outer Banks island.

Staga Lee Kearney of Raleigh was swimming about 40 yards from the beach but was reported missing about 1:20 p.m. after failing to return to shore.

Kearney's body was found about 5:40 a.m. Tuesday near the waterline adjacent to beach access ramp 70 - about one mile west of Kearney's last known location. National Park Service authorities had withheld his name until Wednesday so they could notify relatives. KEYWORDS: DROWNING

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