CHARLESTON, S.C. —
Coast Guard search crews located an overturned, unmanned boat belonging to two missing fishermen, Thursday, approximately 10 miles east of Bulls Bay, S.C.
Still missing are Joseph McFadden, 77 years old, and Michael Lawrence, 61 years old.
The boaters were reportedly fishing aboard the 18-foot bass boat in the vicinity of the Charleston Jetties.
Charleston County Consolidated Dispatch first notified Coast Guard Sector Charleston’s command center of the overdue boaters Thursday morning. The missing men had departed on a fishing trip Wednesday morning and were scheduled to return Wednesday evening.
By Thursday the pair was overdue and their truck and trailer were found still parked at the pier at Remleys Point, S.C.
A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Coast Guard Station Charleston was launched to search, along with the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Yellowfin, from Charleston, and an RBM crew from Coast Guard Station Georgetown, S.C.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Facility Charleston was also diverted to assist in the search, along with an HC-130 Hercules airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C.
Other agencies involved in the search include crews from the North Charleston Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Anyone with any information that could assist search crews are urged to contact the Coast Guard Sector Charleston command center at: 843-740-7050.