The Coast Guard medically evacuated fishermen Alvin Floyd and John Hodges from a 23-foot commercial fishing vessel on the south end of St. Catherines Island on Wednesday, June 22, following an explosion onboard. Operational watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Charleston received reports of the explosion and deployed two rescue helicopter crews. A good Samaritan rescued the fishermen from the water and waited until the rescue crews arrived. The Coast Guard crews safely transported the fishermen to Savannah Memorial Hospital.
The cause of the explosion is unknown. The commercial fishing vessel reportedly sunk approximately 1,000 feet off shore.