Friend In Need
Story by U.S. Coast Guard,
8th District Public Affairs
ACKSONVILLE, FL - Coast Guard rescue crews suspended
their search at noon for Robert Wadell, 48, and his 17-year-old
son, both Charleston, S.C., residents, along with Dean Hinely,
35, and his 15 and 17-year-old sons, from Savannah, Ga., after a
crew on a Naval vessel located them 30 miles east of Charleston.
The family members were found in good condition in their 23-foot
red and white center-console boat after running out of gas
yesterday.
The Coast Guard rescue crews were notified by a family friend shortly
after midnight after the five boaters had not returned Monday evening. Rescue crews of the Coast Guard Cutter Yellowfin, an HH-65 helicopter
from Air Facility Charleston and a HC-130 aircraft from Elizabeth City,
N.C., searched more than 1,500 square miles before a Navy vessel located
the five survivors. Coast Guard small boat rescue crews are safely
escorting the vessel and crew back to Coast Guard Group Charleston who
are expected to arrive around 6 p.m. tonight. "This rescue was
certainly made easier by the early notification that the vessel had not
returned on time," said Cmdr. June Ryan, commanding officer of Coast
Guard Group Charleston.
One of the major missions the Coast Guard conducts is search and rescue.
The boating public can help limit the search time by leaving a float
plan.
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