Coast Guard Rescues Man and Dog from Grounded Sailboat

Helicopter crew airlifts boater and pet from Winyah Bay near Georgetown

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a man and his dog on Friday after their 37-foot sailboat ran aground on rocks in Winyah Bay near Georgetown, South Carolina. The man sent out a distress call on VHF-FM channel 16, which alerted the Coast Guard Air Station Savannah crew to respond and airlift the boater and his pet to safety at the Georgetown Airport without any reported medical concerns.

Why it matters

This rescue highlights the importance of boaters being prepared with proper communication equipment like a working VHF radio to call for help when emergencies occur on the water. It also underscores the Coast Guard's critical role in responding to maritime distress calls and conducting search and rescue operations to protect public safety.

The details

Around 6:16 p.m. on Friday, the man aboard the grounded sailboat sent out a distress call on VHF-FM channel 16. A Coast Guard Air Facility Charleston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Charleston responded and airlifted the man and his dog to the Georgetown Airport. Neither the boater nor his pet suffered any reported medical issues.

  • The distress call was made around 6:16 p.m. on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • The Coast Guard rescue operation took place on Friday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Coast Guard Air Station Savannah

The U.S. Coast Guard air station that coordinated the rescue response.

Lt. Josh Hamilton

The pilot of the Coast Guard Air Facility Charleston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter that conducted the rescue.

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What they’re saying

“Our crews train extensively to respond to situations like this, and we're grateful the mariner had a working VHF radio to call for help. Running aground can quickly become dangerous, especially near rocks and shifting conditions. We encourage all boaters to carry proper communication equipment and continuously monitor Channel 16 so we can respond without delay when every second counts.”

— Lt. Josh Hamilton, Pilot, Coast Guard Air Facility Charleston (abcnews4.com)

What’s next

The Coast Guard will likely conduct a full investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the sailboat running aground and assess any potential environmental impacts.

The takeaway

This rescue serves as a reminder for all boaters to be prepared with the proper safety equipment, including a working VHF radio, to ensure they can call for help quickly in an emergency situation on the water.