Two men stranded in a 16-foot boat that ran aground during the overnight hours Saturday had to be rescued by U.S. Coast Guard units during an hours-long response.
It was approximately 1:30 a.m. when Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to assist in the response efforts. The helicopter crew managed to hoist the men -- identified as Pennsville residents in their 20s -- from the boat. They were uninjured and later transported to New Castle Airport, in Delaware.
The 16-foot boat had become disabled in the waters of Mannington Meadows, which is about about four miles north of Salem City. The incident was first reported to Coast Guard units via a 11:35 p.m. 911 call late Saturday.
Robbie Chambers, deputy chief of Pennsville's fire and rescue company, said the duo had been out duck hunting since early morning when they managed to get a message to a friend Saturday evening about being stranded in the marshes.
"There were lots of things working against us," Chambers said of efforts to locate the men while considering a tide that would reach its absolute lowest point at 2 a.m. -- which was being blown out faster by overnight winds.
Chambers said the men were picked up by a guardian after being transported to Delaware by the Coast Guard and, to the best of his knowledge, did not need to be hospitalized.
Year of 'change and challenge' ahead in Salem County
Year of 'change and challenge' ahead in Salem County
One of the largest changes the Salem County Board of Chosen Freeholders will see is a reduction in its membership from seven to five.
It was approximately 1:30 a.m. when Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to assist in the response efforts. The helicopter crew managed to hoist the men -- identified as Pennsville residents in their 20s -- from the boat. They were uninjured and later transported to New Castle Airport, in Delaware.
The 16-foot boat had become disabled in the waters of Mannington Meadows, which is about about four miles north of Salem City. The incident was first reported to Coast Guard units via a 11:35 p.m. 911 call late Saturday.
Robbie Chambers, deputy chief of Pennsville's fire and rescue company, said the duo had been out duck hunting since early morning when they managed to get a message to a friend Saturday evening about being stranded in the marshes.
"There were lots of things working against us," Chambers said of efforts to locate the men while considering a tide that would reach its absolute lowest point at 2 a.m. -- which was being blown out faster by overnight winds.
Chambers said the men were picked up by a guardian after being transported to Delaware by the Coast Guard and, to the best of his knowledge, did not need to be hospitalized.
Year of 'change and challenge' ahead in Salem County
Year of 'change and challenge' ahead in Salem County
One of the largest changes the Salem County Board of Chosen Freeholders will see is a reduction in its membership from seven to five.