Rescue crews searching for 2 men after fishing boat found overturned off SC coast
Rescue crews are searching the water for two men after a boat was found overturned in St. Helena Sound.
The U.S. Coast Guard in Charleston received a call from a family member Tuesday afternoon saying the men had not returned by an expected time. A passerby called the Coast Guard reporting an overturned fishing boat in the south end of St. Helena Sound, a Coast Guard release said.
Beaufort County dispatchers also received a call about 4:30 p.m. reporting an overturned boat off Harbor Island in northern Beaufort County, a Sheriff’s Office release said.
A Coast Guard helicopter from Savannah dropped a rescue swimmer in the water at the 27-foot boat and didn’t see anyone. Two Coast Guard helicopters and four boats were part of the search.
The Coast Guard was also using two C-130 aircraft to search farther offshore, Coast Guard spokesman David Micallef said Wednesday morning.
The men left at about 5 a.m. Tuesday, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman said. Micallef said they were last seen fishing in the area where the boat was found at noon.
“We’re throwing everything we have at it,” Micallef said.
Search crews from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Lady’s Island-St. Helena Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office and volunteer Beaufort Water Search and Rescue are also among the agencies searching by water and air.
People in the area can expect to see public safety crews during the search.
This is a developing story.
This story was originally published November 17, 2020 at 7:17 PM.
