MURRELLS INLET, S.C. – The Coast Guard has suspended a search for missing fisherman, Mark Shackelford, who disappeared from his vessel approximately 10 miles southeast of Murrells Inlet Thursday.
The Coast Guard, Auxiliary Air, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Civil Air Patrol searched an area more than 590 square nautical miles southeast of Murrells Inlet Thursday and Friday.
Involved with the search was:
- An MH-65 rescue helicopter crew from Air Facility Charleston, S.C.
- Two rescue boat crews from Coast Guard Station Georgetown, S.C.
- The 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Yellowfin, homeported in Charleston, S.C.
- The 175-foot Coast Guard Cutter Maria Bray, homeported in Mayport, Fla.
- A Coast Guard Auxiliary air crew from Georgetown
- A South Carolina Department of Natural Resources aircraft crew from Columbia, S.C.
- A Civil Air Patrol aircraft crew from Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Coast Guard Sector Charleston search-and-rescue coordinators received a distress call at 6:47 p.m. Thursday from a crew member aboard the 28-foot fishing vessel Lady Die reporting Mark Shackelford was missing. The crew member who made the report had been sleeping and upon awakening, found the vessel’s captain missing.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Shackelford’s friends and family” said Captain Michael McAllister, commander, Coast Guard Sector Charleston.
