Coast Guard Cutter Cormorant file photo
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Coast Guard suspended their search Saturday at sunset for Howard “Dale” Smith missing 21 miles east of Myrtle Beach since late Friday evening.
Coast Guard Sector Charleston Command Center watchstanders received a call at 9:29 p.m. Friday, from the crew of the 42-foot fishing vessel Addis Sylvester, out of Little River, S.C., stating a crewmember had fallen overboard.
Search crews completed 20 searches covering approximately 3,052 square miles. Coast Guard assets involved in the search included:
Coast Guard Station Georgetown boatcrews
Coast Guard Cutter Cormorant, an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat from Sector Charleston
Coast Guard Cutter Forward, a 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter from Portsmouth, Virginia
Coast Guard Cutter Lawrence Lawson, a 154-foot Fast Response Cutter from Cape May, New Jersey
Coast Guard Air Station Savannah MH-65 Dolphin helicopter
Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules airplane
“The decision to suspend the search for Dale was not an easy one, and it was made understanding his experience as a fisherman and his will to live,” said Capt. John Reed, Commander, Coast Guard Sector Charleston.
The incident is currently under investigation.
