CHARLESTON, SC (WBTW) – The U.S. Coast Guard out of Charleston responded to reports of a boat taking on water 41 miles off Bulls Bay, but later discovered the boat malfunctioned.
Operations Specialist Eli Teller says after crews began the search, the boat was actually located off the coast of Charleston early Friday morning.
Coast Guard crews were deployed to search for the boat and located the missing boater when they received a ping from the boater’s satellite phone.Teller adds that the boat was not taking on water, as was originally reported, but rather, was unable to operate due to a fuel pump issue, causing it to drift in the water.
A Coast Guard cutter towed the boat to Charleston Friday morning. The boat is described as a 30-foot fishing boat from Murrells Inlet. Coast Guard officials say a helicopter and a patrol boat were used to locate the vessel.
