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| Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Woodall |
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Coast Guard crews rescued three fishermen Friday after their fishing vessel sank 45 miles east of Myrtle Beach.
The fishermen reported their 33-foot fishing vessel, Aunt T, was sinking and had to abandon ship into their life raft.
Coast Guard Sector Charleston Command Center watchstanders were notified by an emergency position indicating radio beacon activation and later connected via satellite phone with one of the fishermen stating the situation at 12 a.m. A Coast Guard Air Station Savannah MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew launched and hoisted the fisherman from their life raft at approximately 1:19 a.m. They were taken to Myrtle Beach International Airport where EMS was waiting.
"The fishermen had a life raft, satellite phone and an EPIRB that directly contributed to us rescuing them so quickly," said Lt. J.B. Zorn, the Sector Charleston public affairs officer. "Their safety equipment took the search out of search and rescue."
The Aunt T was homeported in Jacksonville, Florida.
The cause of the fishing vessel sinking in under investigation.
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