Friday, May 26, 2017

Missing Fishermen Identified as Search Continues off Georgia Coast

Sean Breslin
Published: May 26,2017

The U.S. Coast Guard has released the names of three fishermen missing off the coast of Tybee Island, Georgia, since a round of severe weather hit the area Tuesday evening.
The three fishermen have been identified as Gary McGowen, Benjamin Dover and Isaac West, as reported by the Savannah Morning News.
Just before 6:30 p.m. Tuesday evening, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Charleston Command Center watchstanders were notified by the District 7 Command Center of an emergency position for the Miss Debbie, according to WCBD-TV. The USCG launched a rescue boat shortly after, and the 47-foot shrimp boat was found capsized minutes before 8 p.m., the report added.
Weather conditions have also impacted the search. WITN.com reported some USCG elements were unable to join the search Wednesday because of the weather, but the search was not called off altogether. The search was centered on an area about a mile northeast of Tybee Island, according to the Associated Press.
(MORE: Damage, Tornadoes Reported in the South)
In a social media post, USCG shared an image of debris in the water, and although the boat was recovered, they haven't located the crew. Helicopters have also been dispatched in the search, WJCL.com reported.
Around the time an emergency was reported from the boat, severe storms were in the area of Tybee Island. An EF1 tornado was confirmed near the island, but it's unclear if the boat was impacted by the twister or rough seas.
The USCG rescued four boaters near Pritchard's Island, South Carolina, Tuesday afternoon in a separate incident, WTOC.com reported.
MORE: Storms Hit the South

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