Dramatic Rescue on South Carolina Shoreline: Coast Guard Saves Stranded Boaters and Their Pet Pup
Five Persons and Their Dog Rescued Successfully from Fripp Island
A daring rescue operation caught on video showed the US Coast Guard successfully rescuing five people and a pet dog stranded on a rocky stretch of a barrier island in South Carolina. Their 23-feet boat had run aground on the risky part of Fripp Island on Sunday afternoon.
Complex Yet Successful Operation
The Coast Guard officials released a statement informing that they received a call for help around 2 p.m. On receiving the distress call, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter was dispatched from the Savannah air station to carry out the rescue operation. Using a difficult but effective technique, the helicopter crew member was lowered with a stretcher on to the distressed vessel. Everyone, including the pet dog, was hoisted aboard the rescue helicopter to safety after a few multiple challenging trips.
“Due to the high number of people, this turned out to be a fairly complex evolution that requires multiple trips to the vessel in distress,” informed Lt. Commander Carl Luxhoj, aircraft commander of the station. With commendable team effort, all personnel managed the aircraft weight and power margin to successfully conduct the hoists.
Tides and Safety on Water
The region of the Lowcountry is known for its impressive range of tides, and Lt. Commander Luxhoj used this occasion to advise all mariners on the importance of checking tides and currents before setting out on the water.
Ground Assistance from Local Marine Rescue Team
The operation was further assisted on the ground by a two-member airboat team from the Beaufort County Marine Rescue, who responded quickly to the emergency and helped in the successful rescue operation.
Safe Landing, No Injuries
After being flown to safety, all the rescued persons and their dog were safely dropped off at the Beaufort Executive Airport. No injuries were reported in the aftermath of this daring rescue. The marine rescue group later recovered both the stranded boat and the airboat.
