Story by U.S. Coast Guard,

7th District Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - July 20 - Coast Guard rescue crews suspended their search at noon for Robert Wadell, 48, and his 17-year-old son, both Charleston, S.C., residents, along with Dean Hinely, 35, and his 15 and 17-year-old sons, from Savannah, Ga., after a crew on a Naval vessel located them 30 miles east of Charleston.  The family members were found in good condition in their 23-foot red and white center-console boat after running out of gas yesterday.

The Coast Guard rescue crews were notified by a family friend shortly after midnight after the five boaters had not returned Monday evening.  Rescue crews of the Coast Guard Cutter Yellowfin, an HH-65 helicopter from Air Facility Charleston and a HC-130 aircraft from Elizabeth City, N.C., searched more than 1,500 square miles before a Navy vessel located the five survivors.  Coast Guard small boat rescue crews are safely escorting the vessel and crew back to Coast Guard Group Charleston who are expected to arrive around 6 p.m. tonight.  "This rescue was certainly made easier by the early notification that the vessel had not returned on time, said Cmdr. June Ryan, commanding officer of Coast Guard Group Charleston.

One of the major missions the Coast Guard conducts is search and rescue.  The boating public can help limit the search time by leaving a float plan.