Police searched area missing Hilton Head man was found the day before

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office called off a ground search for 75-year-old James Holub on Friday — Saturday morning he was found alive in Hilton Head Plantation.

Holub was found in the Whooping Crane Pond Conservancy around 9:30 a.m. He was reported missing Thursday after not returning home from a fishing trip.

A resident on Horseman Lane heard moans coming from a wooded area next to her property Saturday morning. She contacted Hilton Head Plantation security along with Beaufort County Sheriff's Office.

"Deputies had to negotiate their way through the thick brush to get to him," Bromage said.

Upon being found, Holub was alert but dehydrated, said Peter Kristian, plantation property owner's association general manager, Saturday.

Sheriff P.J. Tanner said about 28 people searched a large radius looking for Holub — including the area he was found.

"We believe he was disoriented and moving constantly — possibly missing searchers," Tanner said.

Holub is known to fish almost daily in the lagoons of Hilton Head Plantation with a friend, but he wasn't with that friend on Thursday. He was last spotted by someone in the neighborhood at about 3:30 p.m. carrying his fishing pole, a tackle box and backpack.

He had left his home on foot.

Overall there was 137 acres of thick woods, swamp and brush within the region Holub was known to fish.

Tanner said the search group went deep into swampy areas at times — sometimes waist or chest deep water in search of Holub.

"We were striking out at every turn," Tanner said.

Tanner decided to conclude a ground search early in the evening Friday. Helicopters were going to continue monitoring the area for several days.

A targeted search would have continued if any item of Holub's had been found, Tanner said. Bloodhounds would have been able to track better if any personal item had been found.

There also was a fear that an alligator could have been the cause of the disappearance, Tanner said. He said there was a call reporting an aggressive alligator at one of the ponds Holub was seen at Thursday.

Tanner also said he witnessed an aggressive alligator in the area. He said this isn't uncommon during this time of year as mothers are protecting babies.

Holub also is known to wade into the water to fish at times, Tanner said.

Tanner said ultimately it was a relief and remarkable that Holub was found on Saturday morning.

"It is amazing," Tanner said. "For a man his age to be in the elements as hot as it was with no water — He is a very healthy 75-year-old man with a very strong will to live and my hat is off to him."

Police have not been able to thoroughly interview Holub yet as they await his recovery.

This story was originally published July 1, 2018 at 5:47 PM.