The Coast Guard and Beaufort County Marine Rescue assisted five people and a dog Sunday after their boat ran aground near Fripp Island.
Coast Guard Sector Charleston command center watchstanders received a report at approximately 2 p.m. via cell phone from a person aboard a 23-foot boat stating they ran aground with five people aboard and a dog.
Watchstanders contacted Beaufort County Marine Rescue who launched an airboat crew to assist. Once the airboat crew arrived on scene their boat suffered an engine casualty.
A Coast Guard Air Station Savannah MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew launched to assist in recovering the five people, dog and two airboat crew members.
The helicopter crew hoisted all individuals, including the dog, and safely transported them to Beaufort Executive Airport with no medical concerns.
“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.”
Beaufort County Marine Rescue recovered their airboat and the 23-foot boat.