U.S. Coast Guard Saves 3 Men 'Clinging' to Hull of Capsized Boat Off South Carolina Coast

coast guard saves 3 men in south carolina
coast guard saves 3 men in south carolina

USCGSoutheast/Twitter Coast Guard rescue

Three men have been rescued off the coast of South Carolina after their boat capsized off shore, according to the United States Coast Guard.

The victims were five miles east of Charleston Harbor on Thursday morning when their 23-foot boat sank in to the ocean, the Coast Guard said in a press release.

A good Samaritan, who called for help just before 7:30 a.m., said the victims were "clinging to the overturned hull," per the agency.

There was only one life preserver among the three victims, according to the Charlotte Observer.

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A search and rescue crew from the Coast Guard station in Charleston responded to the scene and was able to retrieve all three men from the water, the Coast Guard said Thursday.

The men had been in the water for an estimated 90 minutes before they were saved, according to the Post and Courier.

The trio received "emergency medical services" at the Charleston Coast Guard station, though none of the victims reported any medical issues.

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The owner of the boat is now working with a commercial salvage company to pull the vessel from the water, according to Thursday's release.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Harry Seibert said the accident "is a prime example of how quickly things can go wrong in a matter of seconds" on the water.

"It is important mariners check their vessel for all the necessary safety equipment onboard and monitor weather conditions prior to getting on the water," Seibert said, per the release.

It is unclear how the boat sank.