A North Carolina man, who was shipwrecked for five hours, revealed he attracted the attention of his rescuers by yelling for help.
In a post on Facebook, the Nags Head Fire Rescue revealed that the man launched a small sailboat from the Harvey public sound access at 6912 South Croatan Highway earlier in the day on May 6. However, the boat washed ashore north of the access at Jockey’s Ridge State Park.
It was noted that with strong west/southwest winds, two to three feet of swell, and cold water, the shipwrecked situation was getting very serious.
The fire rescue, along with the police department and the U.S. Coast Guard, deployed its rescue boat to find the missing person. After initiating a search grid, the rescue team heard someone yelling from the water. Fire rescue was able to get the man out of the water in less than an hour after being called to the scene.
Fire rescue also reported the shipwrecked man was responsive. The team assessed his condition and provided him with medical care. Dare County EMS arrived on the scene and transported the man to The Outer Banks Hospital.
The U.S. Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet also stated in its Facebook post that it received a report of an overdue person on an inflatable catamaran sailboat. The person was last seen soundside of Nags Head.
“After beginning our search, the missing person was found alive by Nags Head Fire/Rescue while our crews recovered what remained of the vessel. This was a joint effort from Station, helicopter crews from Elizabeth City, and local first responders.”
The U.S. Coast Guard also confirmed the shipwrecked man was in the water for five hours before he was rescued. The man’s identity nor other shipwreck details were revealed.
U.S. Coast Guard Stresses Importance of Life Jackets Following Shipwrecked Incident
Along with announcing the shipwrecked man incident, the U.S. Coast Guard stressed the importance of life jackets.
“This case serves as a reminder to the public: life jackets SAVE LIVES,” the post reads. “And to plan your voyages according to the weather,” the U.S. Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet declared.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s website, life jackets provide buoyancy for different instances. This includes when an individual finds themselves in the water unexpectedly or an individual jumps in the water to save someone else’s life. Life jackets are also for an individual who is deemed a weak or non-swimmer.
Life jackets need to be the appropriate size for the intended user, appropriate for the intended activity, and in good/serviceable condition. They also need to be Coast Guard-approved.