Mariner rescued off NC by U.S. Coast Guard, National Park Service

SHACKLEFORD BANKS, N.C. (WNCN) — A man was rescued from a boat that ran aground in North Carolina Monday night by crews from the United States Coast Guard and the National Park Service.

According to the USCG, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Command Center received a call from a commercial towing service around 5:30 p.m. Monday. They reported a 34-foot trawler called Opeechee had run aground near Shackleford Banks and they were unable to get a towline to it.

An urgent marine information broadcast was issued by the watchstanders, and a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew was launched from nearby Coast Guard Station Fort Macon. When they arrived on scene, the boatcrew “determined they were unable to reach the grounded vessel”. They then requested a smaller 29-foot Response Boat also come to the location.

That boat was also launched from Fort Macon and the crew was met by a National Parks Service vessel that helped with “a shoreside rescue of the mariner”, the USCG said.

“A surface swimmer swam out to the mariner and brought him safely to shore,” the Coast Guard said in a release.

No injuries were reported to either the man who was rescued or the responders.

According to the Coast Guard, waves were approximately three feet high and winds were 20 miles an hour with gusts up to 30 miles per hour at the time of the rescue.

“The shallow water depth and on scene weather made this a dynamic rescue, requiring teamwork and skilled, trained professionals to complete,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Todd Ghormley, the officer in charge of Coast Guard Station Fort Macon. “Teamwork and training is essential to keeping our waterways safe during the busy boating season. As more people take to the water, this rescue serves as a reminder of the importance of preparedness.”