Missing boaters found safe - WMBFNews.com, Myrtle Beach/Florence SC, Weather

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) Cpl. Justin Wyatt with the Horry County Police Department tells WMBF News that the missing boaters from earlier Thursday evening were found just before 11:30 p.m. 

Cpl. Wyatt says the boaters were able to swim ashore near the south side of Briarcliffe Acres and they are safe and healthy, but they did receive minor medical attention. The high winds and tide helped pushed them inland. The boat washed up closeby to where the boaters came ashore.

Petty Officer McDonald with the United States Coast Guard tells WMBF News they responded to a call of an overturned sailboat near the Brigadune Condos on Shore Drive near the Apache Pier.  McDonald says people were in the water and that crews from Horry County, North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach were on the scene.

Pat Dowling, the PIO for North Myrtle Beach, says North Myrtle Beach Fire/Rescue sent a rescue boat to search for the two people.

WMBF News reporter Sean Maginnis spoke with Cpl. Justin Wyatt with the Horry County Police Department just after 10 p.m. Thursday.  Wyatt says all units had called off the search, but would resume Friday morning.  Around 10:30p.m. Thursday, the USCG told WMBF News that they were continuing the search.

At one point during the search, the USCG sent a helicopter to look for the missing boaters, but it was grounded for a time due to people on the ground pointing green lasers at the pilot.  Officials were able to stop the green lasers so that the helicopter could resume searching.

North Myrtle Beach Public Safety officer Donnie Constransitch said, "I had a marine radio. I had direct contact with the helicopter. They notified us several times about where these green lasers were coming from. They did notify me that they had to land twice."

Grand Strand Visitor Kim Norman stated, "We heard the green lasers were illegal down here. They weren't allowed to use them. My kids wanted one and we said no, no. I just wish people would understand that when it comes to emergency situations you don't mess around."

Norman watched as rescue workers searched for the boaters. She added, "They even stopped the karaoke on the pier and had everybody look over the railings on the pier to see if they could see anybody or help out."

Many are thankful for a happy ending, but everyone should learn a lesson from what happened. Norman added, "It shook everybody up and parents can teach their children from this and tell them to wear their life jacket and don't go out by yourself."

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