CAPERS ISLAND, S.C. — The Coast Guard, along with Charleston County Marine Rescue, rescued three boaters Tuesday morning in the vicinity of Capers Island, S.C.
All three boaters reported no injuries and were evaluated by Emergency Medical Services.
Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Charleston command center were notified of the situation by Charleston County Dispatch at 1:50 a.m. The report stated the three boaters were aboard their 42-foot pleasure craft, Into the Mystic, which was aground and taking on water in Whiteside Creek off of the Intracoastal Waterway. Later reports indicated the pleasure craft was at anchor when the anchor broke free, pushing them into a sandbar and causing the vessel to list and take on water.
A crew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Facility Charleston was launched at 1:55 a.m. Crewmembers aboard a 25-foot Response Boat-Small from Coast Guard Station Charleston were launched at 1:54 a.m.
Due to the shallow waters, a Charleston County Marine Rescue shallow bottom boat was utilized to get alongside the pleasure craft and remove the three boaters. The boaters were transferred to the Coast Guard RBS and later transferred to awaiting EMS at the Isle of Palms Marina.
As a result of the incident, diesel fuel was spilled into the waterway. Coast Guard pollution responders are investigating.
