WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard rescued two people stranded Saturday night after their vessel ran aground near Shallotte.
Sector North Carolina watchstanders received a report at approximately 8 p.m. Saturday of two people stranded on a marshy island in the Lockwood Folly River. The fishing vessel Kokopia was aground and listing in the river and the two people aboard were stranded in the marsh.
A MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew launched from Air Station Savannah in Savannah, Georgia, launched at approximately 10 p.m. and arrived on scene at approximately midnight. The air crew hoisted the crew and transferred them to Myrtle Beach International Airport.
The fishing vessel remains aground with 300 gallons of diesel fuel aboard. There were no injuries or pollution reported.
"Sector North Carolina wants to express appreciation to crews outside of North Carolina that assisted with rescue effort and the quick thinking of Master Chief Cannon to assess the danger due to local weather to local assets while still managing a prompt rescue effort," said Chief Petty Officer Jeremy V. Thomas, Public Information Officer at Sector North Carolina.
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