oak island NC boating accident

[ccat]

Anybody know what happened? prayers for all the families.


OAK ISLAND, N.C. (AP) - Searchers found the bodies of four people missing from a small boat that overturned in the Atlantic Ocean more than a mile from shore, the Coast Guard said Thursday.

Two survivors were able to swim to Oak Island, in the state's southern tip, and were hospitalized, Coast Guard spokesman Mark Adams said.

The bodies of the four others who had been aboard the 18-foot boat when it capsized Wednesday evening were discovered shortly before midnight. The boaters, who had set out from nearby Shallotte, at first tied themselves to the craft, but about 10 p.m. they tried to swim the 1 1/2 miles to shore, Adams said.

The four victims were all wearing life jackets when their bodies were found

[Fluke Hunter]

Six people on an 18ft boat in the open ocean the end of winter??

Not good.

My heart goes out to the families.

[tarnold]

http://www.starnewsonline.com/apps/p...9/-1/FRONTPAGE

[rhartjr]

Small craft advisery was up. The 2 that made it back were extremely lucky, thoughts and prayers to the families of the 4 that didn't. Those are my fishing grounds, its no fun when the wind is up.

[StakeoutToo]

here's three links.. last two are accessible with a free signup only.. I'll copy/paste one of the stories out of Wilmington Star News..

incident happened just north of us out of Ocean Isle Beach, NC near Holden Beach... 4 DOA's.. 2 survived.. unknown 18' Catamaran just 4 miles offshore.. terrible tragedy...very sad.. condolences to the victim's familes

http://www.brunswickbeacon.com/

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld...s/14116414.htm


http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/p.../60316009/1004

Survivors: Waves caused boat to capsize, killing four


From Staff Writers
The survivors of an 18-foot, dual-hulled boat that capsized overnight about 4 miles off Holden Beach told rescuers their boat took "a large wave over the side" before dumping its occupants into the Atlantic Ocean.

The six men ran into difficulty Wednesday afternoon between 12:30 and 1 p.m. after launching from Shallotte, Coast Guard Commander Dale Jones said.

There was a small craft advisory in effect when the vessel capsized.

The six men, all residents of Banner Elk, a mountain community in
Avery County, had been renting a house at 31 Richmond St., in Ocean Isle Beach.

After the boat capsized, the men apparently lashed themselves to the boat.

Survivors Paul Poore, 28, and Sean Knight, 23, later left the boat and swam to shore near Holden Beach, where they called 911 for help.

The bodies of Kevin Bell, 38; Griff Lyerly, 22; Michael Shope, 21; and Archibald McFadyen, 20, were spotted about 7:30 a.m. about 1.5 miles off Lockwood Folley Inlet near Holden Beach, Exec. Petty Officer Mark Adams said.

Two had tethered themselves together. Three were wearing life jackets.

Adams said at the time of the incident , the water temperature was 58 degrees, with seas at 1 to 2 feet and winds blowing 5 to 10 knots.

Becky Alghrary, features editor with the Avery Journal-Times a weekly newspaper that covers Banner Elk, said the news of the boating accident hit the 600-people town hard.

Alghrary said three of the dead men, Lygrely, Shope and McFadden, where volunteer firefighters and students at Lees-McRae College on spring break.

Lygrely was scheduled to graduate this spring, she said.

Bell was the assistant chief of the Banner Elk Volunteer Fire Department where his father is chief, Alghrary said.

Check back later and read Friday's Star-News for more on this developing story.