Coast Guard assists 4 people, 1 dog stranded on island off Cape Lookout, NC

MH-60 Jayhawk, ©USCG

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Coast Guard crews assisted four people and their dog after their vessel ran aground near Cape Lookout Sunday evening.

TowBoatUS personnel notified watchstanders at Sector North Carolina's command center in Wilmington at 9:40 p.m. that a 20-foot vessel was taking on water in the vicinity of Shark Island, which is about 500 yards south of Cape Lookout.

A 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Station Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City launched to assist.

When the Coast Guard crews arrived on scene, they found that the boat had run aground and the people were stranded in knee-deep water on the edge of Shark Island.

The helicopter crew hoisted all four adults and their dog from the island and transported them to Michael J. Smith Field in Beaufort.

There were no reported injuries or pollution. The boat's owner is arranging salvage plans with TowBoatUS.

"We are thankful that the individuals did not attempt to swim back to shore," said Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Nicholas Kealy, co-pilot of the Jayhawk helicopter crew. "The current is significantly strong in that area, and it could have put them in a dangerous situation. We are glad they showed great judgment and called for help."

-USCG-

Coast Guard medevacs diver near Cape Lookout, NC

MH-60 Jayhawk, ©USCG

A Coast Guard aircrew aboard a MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter medevacs a diver suffering from possible decompression sickness near Cape Lookout, North Carolina, June 17, 2018. The diver was safely hoisted up and transported to Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. 

WILMINGTON — The Coast Guard medevaced a man who was showing signs of decompression sickness approximately 10 miles east of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, Sunday.

A crewmember aboard a 52-foot diving vessel contacted the Sector North Carolina command center via VHF-FM radio channel 16 at 10 a.m. and notified them the diver may have surfaced too quickly and was experiencing shortness of breath.

Sector North Carolina diverted a MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter aircrew from Air Station Elizabeth City that was conducting training nearby.

Once on scene, the aircrew was able to safely hoist the man up and transport him to Norfolk Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia.

“Divers experiencing decompression sickness need to receive medical attention as soon as possible,” said Lt. Tiffany Zehnle, command duty officer. “Today, the crew contacted us immediately after they noticed the symptoms, like shortness of breath after the diver surfaced, which really made this a successful case. Some other symptoms to be on the lookout for are numbness, dizziness and pain in joints after surfacing from a dive.”

-USCG-

Coast Guard rescues man after search off Emerald Isle, NC

MH-60 Jayhawk, ©U.S. Coast Guard

WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard rescued a man Saturday after a search that began Friday when two men aboard a recreational fishing boat were reported overdue near Emerald Isle.

Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Command Center in Wilmington received notification at about 7:45 p.m. Friday that a 23-foot center console with two people aboard were expected to arrive at Bogue Inlet by 5:30 p.m., but had not returned from their voyage.

The Coast Guard immediately issued an urgent marine information broadcast to alert mariners in the area. The Coast Guard sent a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Emerald Isle, and a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Station Fort Macon, along with an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and C-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Air Station Elizabeth City to search.

The Station Emerald Isle crew located a capsized vessel matching the description of the overdue boat just outside of Bogue Inlet.

One of the overdue boaters was wearing a life jacket and was able to swim to shore. An Emerald Isle Fire Dept. crew located the man who was displaying signs of hypothermia, and placed him in the care of EMS.

The Coast Guard received a call from a person walking the shoreline near Bogue Inlet at about 4:40 a.m., reporting cries for help. A 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water crew from Station Emerald Isle arrived on scene and found the missing man clinging to the hard-top canopy from the overturned boat near Buoy 10 inside Bogue Inlet.

The man was taken to shore and placed in the care of awaiting EMS after displaying signs of hypothermia.

"The fact that these boaters told someone they were going out and planned to be back at a certain time is what saved this man's life today," said Chief Petty Officer Ryan Alexander, command duty officer for Sector North Carolina. "Wearing a life jacket exponentially increases the chances of survival in situations like this."

-USCG-

Coast Guard rescues 5 from capsized boat near Cape Fear, NC

WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard rescued five people from the water approximately 15 miles east of Cape Fear Tuesday.

One of the individuals from the 48-foot boat contacted Coast Guard Sector North Carolina watchstanders at 5:15 p.m. and reported that their boat was taking on water and all five of them were entering the water. They also activated an emergency position indicating radio beacon to help rescuers locate them.

Sector North Carolina watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched a boat crew on a Station Wrightsville Beach 45-foot Response Boat — Medium and an aircrew on an Air Station Elizabeth City MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to respond.

The Coast Guard boat crew found all five people, wearing life jackets, clinging to the overturned hull.

They were pulled from the water and taken to Station Wrightsville Beach where EMS was waiting. They were treated for mild hypothermia.

-USCG-