Coast Guard rescues injured man from aground sailboat off Georgia coast

On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard successfully rescued an injured man after his sailboat, the Quicksilver, ran aground near Sapelo Sound, Georgia. The man radioed a distress call to Coast Guard Sector Charleston, reporting that his 36-foot vessel was taking on water after running aground.

Emergency Response

Upon receiving the distress call, Coast Guard Sector Charleston watchstanders immediately took action, issuing an urgent marine information broadcast. They directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Brunswick boat crew, a Coast Guard Air Station Savannah helicopter crew, and commercial salvage to the scene to assist the sailor and his grounded sailboat.

Despite the efforts of commercial salvage to prepare the sailboat for towing, a severe injury occurred when attempting to recover the boat's anchor. The injured man required immediate medical attention, prompting the arrival of the Station Brunswick boat crew and McIntosh County Fire and Rescue personnel.

Upon assessing the man's injury, it was determined that he needed to be evacuated via helicopter to receive prompt medical treatment. A video released by the Coast Guard depicts the successful hoisting of the injured man and a McIntosh County Fire and Rescue emergency medical technician from the sailboat, followed by their transport to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah.

Following the medical evacuation, commercial salvage was able to unground the sailboat and tow it to a marina in Valona, Georgia. The U.S. Coast Guard Southeast emphasized the importance of having a serviceable Very High Frequency (VHF) marine radio on board to ensure communication in maritime emergencies.

Importance of VHF Radios

According to a Coast Guard pamphlet, VHF radios are considered essential safety equipment for boats and may be the only means of communication from sea to shore during emergencies. In the event of an emergency, a mayday call over VHF radio to Channel 16 should include the boat's name, position, and a description of the emergency if time allows.

Emergency Communication Protocol

The Coast Guard recommends providing information such as the boat's description, number of persons aboard, any injuries, and the availability of life jackets when making a distress call over the radio. It is important to speak slowly and repeat the information three times to ensure the message is received clearly for an effective Coast Guard response. The use of cell phones is discouraged due to their limited range and susceptibility to damage from water.