Beaufort airboat used in emergency rescues is stuck onshore. How you can help
The Beaufort Water Search and Rescue airboat, used to rescue people and pets who get stranded in shallow water or pluff mudd, is out of commission because of a broken motor.
The airboat, the only one in Beaufort County available for emergency responses, has been out of service for a month, said Rosco Towne, the group’s first mate.
The organization is asking for donations from the public to purchase a new motor. The cost is about $14,000.
The motor has suffered major damage through wear and tear over the years, Towne said.
The all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization relies on donations to assist local police, the Sheriff’s Office, Coast Guard and Department of Natural Resources in water rescues.
The airboat, Towne says, is a great tool for use in the shallows. It’s been used to rescue residents during hurricanes, and dogs and people stuck in pluff mudd.
It’s reached motorists who ran vehicles into the marsh, as well as stranded out-of-towners in kayaks who are unfamiliar with the area’s tides.
“Next thing you know, they have no water underneath ‘em,” Towne said. “We can get all the way up to them.”
How to donate
Check the Beaufort Water Search and Rescue Facebook Page.
This story was originally published October 23, 2021 at 8:00 AM.
