MIAMI — Four people were rescued by the Coast Guard 11 nautical miles east of Charleston, South Carolina, Tuesday.
Coast Guard District 7 watch standers received an Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) alert from a 21-foot fishing vessel 11 nautical miles east of Charleston at 4:45 p.m., Tuesday. Coast Guard Sector Charleston was notified and issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew from Station Charleston and an MH-65 helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Facility Charleston to respond.
The MH-65 helicopter crew arrived on scene at about 5:30 p.m. and found four people wearing personal flotation devices on the hull of a capsized vessel. The helicopter crew deployed their rescue swimmer who safely transferred all four people to a good samaritan that was in the area. The survivors were then transferred to the Station Charleston boatcrew who brought them to emergency medical services at Remleys Point Marina in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.
There were no reported medical concerns.
“The EPIRB, lifejackets, and awareness to remain with the vessel were instrumental in the four people being home safe tonight,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Eric Gentry, a Command Duty Officer at Sector Charleston. “Having proper safety equipment and knowing what to do in an emergency was absolutely critical to the success of this rescue.”
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