The US Coast Guard and a good Samaritan rescued four people whose boat caught fire off the coast of Murrells Inlet, south of Myrtle Beach, Sunday.
Rescued were two men and two women.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Charleston received the initial report over VHF Channel 16 at approximately 11 a.m., from one of the four people aboard the vessel in distress stating that the boat had caught fire, but the fire was out. Minutes later the man called back stating the engine fire had relit.
In response to the report, the Coast Guard launched an MH-65D Dolphin helicopter and crew from Coast Guard Air Facility Charleston and a boatcrew aboard a 45-foot Response Boat — Medium from Coast Guard Station Georgetown to assist. The crew of the Low Bid, a fishing boat in the area, responded to the calls of distress and rescued the four people who had fled to their life raft. They transferred them to the Coast Guard response boat shortly after the boatcrew arrived on scene a few minutes later.
One of the rescued men was exhibiting symptoms of hypothermia and was taken to Georgetown Memorial Hospital for care.
The remaining three people were taken to Murrells Inlet where local EMS was standing by.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
[mappress mapid=”14707″]
Press release, Image: USCG