Former South Carolina QB Chris Smelley found safe after reported missing off Gulf Coast
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GRAYTON BEACH, Fla. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A former South Carolina quarterback has been found safe Thursday night after being reported missing off of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Chris Smelly, 37, was the subject of a search for a missing kayaker. Officers say he went fishing in his blue-and-black kayak around 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Just before 9 p.m., they said Smelley was located by the U.S. Coast Guard.
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WCSO and South Walton Fire District have jet skis in the water off of Grayton Beach searching for Smelley.
Smelley is a resident of Sylacauga, Alabama, where he is head coach of a high school football team. He played for South Carolina from 2006 to 2008 under head coach Steve Spurrier, and passed for 3,210 yards and 23 touchdowns during that time.
The United States Coast Guard out of Mobile, Alabama, and Florida Fish and Wildlife also is aiding the search. As of 6:21 p.m., the Coast Guard had a helicopter off-shore doing a grid search.
If anyone sees Smelley or his kayak, call the sheriff’s office at 850-892-8111.
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