CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Coast Guard and Beaufort County Marine Rescue helped rescue five people and a dog Sunday after their boat ran aground near Fripp Island, a release from the United States Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard Sector Charleston command center was called around 2 p.m. by a person aboard a 23-foot boat. Watchstanders contacted Beaufort County Marine Rescue who launched an airboat crew to assist, the release said.
Once the airboat crew arrived on scene their boat suffered an engine casualty. A Coast Guard Air Station Savannah MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew rescued five people, a dog, and two airboat crew members.
“Due to the high number of people, this turned out to be a fairly complex evolution that required multiple trips to the vessel in distress,” said Lt. Cmdr. Carl Luxhoj, Coast Guard Air Station Savannah aircraft commander. “Our crew did a great job of managing aircraft weight and power margin to conduct the hoists. Due to the impressive range of tides in the Lowcountry region, we recommend all mariners check tides and currents before going out on the water.”
A release said that no hospitalizations were needed after the rescue and Beaufort County Marine Rescue recovered their airboat and the 23-foot boat.
Press the play button above to watch the video of the rescue.