Diver rescued 75 miles from Myrtle Beach shore after drifting from boat, Coast Guard says
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a diver 75 miles from the Myrtle Beach shore Friday after he drifted away from his boat.
Dive boat crew members aboard a 28-foot vessel activated an emergency GPS beacon just before 2 p.m. Friday when the diver didn’t resurface.
After receiving the emergency notification, the Coast Guard command center in Miami, Florida, launched airplane, helicopter and boat crews to assist with search efforts near the diver’s last known position. A crew out of USCG Air Station Savannah found the 35-year-old diver and deployed a rescue swimmer to hoist him into the helicopter.
The diver was taken to Cape Fear Regional Jetport, where EMS was waiting. No medical concerns were reported.
“It was a miracle that our rescue swimmer spotted him while we were on the last leg of our sector search,” Lt. Jeff Davis, a Coast Guard Air Station Savannah aircraft commander, said. “The diver’s yellow surface marker buoy helped us spot him despite the rough seas and strong winds, which limited visibility.”
Seas were 8 to 9 feet with winds coming in from the north at 15 knots, or about 17 miles per hour.
The Coast Guard recommends that recreational divers carry emergency transmitters in the event they get separated, plan dives with appropriate gear, conduct safety checks and follow dive table parameters. It also suggests diving with a buddy, instructor or guide.
Divers should also consider the marine weather forecast. Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, and conditions can change rapidly with developing storm systems.
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