Coast Guard helps 5 in sinking boat near Carolina Beach

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The Coast Guard helped five people after their boat began taking on water near Carolina Beach Sunday.

The Coast Guard in Wilmington received a report at about 8 a.m. that a 33-foot boat was taking on water with five people aboard approximately 15 miles southeast of Carolina Beach.

Crews  arrived on scene at about 8:35 a.m. and delivered a dewatering pump. The pump was able to keep up with the flooding while the Coast Guard escorted the pleasure craft to Carolina Beach Inlet, where a TowBoatUS vessel crew took the boat in tow to Carolina Beach Boat Yard.

“The Coast Guard encourages all mariners to have a commercial salvage membership in case of breakdowns requiring a tow back to shore,” said Petty Officer Second Class Ian Callahan, coxswain for the case. “But we are always prepared to respond to emergency situations on the water.”