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Online Auction benefitting Beaufort Water Search & Rescue and Fripp Island Sea Rescue happening now!

Eat, Stay, Play - Beaufort, SC • Mar 17, 2022

Beaufort Water Search & Rescue (BWSAR) and Fripp Island Sea Rescue (FISR) are hosting their first online auction in conjunction with the 18th annual St. Paddy’s Golf Tournament. The auction is open and free to everyone and will run though March 17, 2021.

Beaufort Water Search & Rescue and Fripp Island Sea Rescue are all-volunteer organizations that serve the commercial and recreational boating community in water-related incidents and emergencies. Their primary missions are to help boaters in distress and conduct search-and-rescue missions to support and assist the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Coast Guard and state and federal law enforcement agencies.


These local and critical organizations require boats, motors, trailers, accessories, electronics, maintenance and fuel to provide these services to Beaufort County. Both organizations are in the continuing process of upgrading their equipment in order to be able to continue serving their respective waters.


Generous auction donations from the community range in value from $100 to $4,000. Examples of auction items include: Golf foursomes at some of Beaufort County’s finest golf courses, Fripp and Hilton Head Island home and condo rentals, catered dinners for four, an oyster roast for 25, drone flying experience, fishing boat charters (flounder gigging, shrimping and off-shore fishing), a coastal expedition at St. Phillips Island cruise, golf cart rentals, guided beach walks for eight, local and world reknown artists’ work, America’s Cup Stars & Stripes Cruise and more.


The site is free to register and if you choose to bid, you simply need an email address. Bidders will also be able to set up notifications when they have been outbid or of items to watch. For more information, contact David Manning at 810-441-2528 or frippislandsearescue@gmail.com.

Local Faces - Jimmy Myers

By Local Life • 01 Jan, 2023
This Fripp Island Sea Rescue volunteer helps boaters and turtles in distress.

Skipper Emeritus Paul Field

By Mary Jacobs • 17 Oct, 2022
Skipper Emeritus Paul Field

Fripp Island Sea Rescue Helps Save 20 Year Old Turtle

By Gowans Trulock • 06 Sep, 2022
Meet Pluto! The 20-year old 75 pound loggerhead turtle, missing a front flipper that caught the eyes and hearts of many after Fripp Island Sea Rescue (FISR) assisted in her rescue. Early morning on May 21st Abby and Robert Morris, the permit holders for sea turtle conservation on Prichards and Little Capers Island, came across Pluto struggling in a tidal pool on the north shore of Pritchards Island. They quickly contacted FISR to help get Pluto safely over to Fripp Island for pickup by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). As soon as the call came in FISR Boat Duty Captain Jimmy Myers, along with crew member Scott Momburg, were dispatched on the boat Rescue 1 and made great time in getting to Pluto Upon arrival, Mr. Myers, Mr. Momburg, and the Morris's were able to safely get Pluto onto Rescue 1 and transport her to Fripp Island. Mr. Myers picked the safest location to get Pluto off the boat at Sunset Beach where Pluto was then transferred to the care of the Fripp Island Loggerhead Patrol. The Fripp Island Loggerhead Patrol had already contacted the DNR while Pluto was on her way to Fripp. While the DNR was on their way Turtle Patrol did as much as they could to care for Pluto until DNR arrived. The transfer took place and the DNR was able to safely transport Pluto to the Sea Turtle Care Center of the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston for examination and further care where she is currently being taken nursed back to better health. Mr. Myers admits this was his most unusual FISR mission and is grateful to have been involved. He contacted the Sea Turtle Care Center to check in on Pluto, and stated, "I fell in love with that turtle!" The care center informed him she must have been stuck in the tide pool for sometime because the barnacles found all over her body took time to form, and that Pluto was lucky that the team rescued her when they did. They also identified another injury on the left rear side of her shell were part of the shell was missing leading them to suspect that her injury along with the missing flipper was most likely the result of a shark attack. While we are unsure at this time whether Pluto will be returned to sea or remain in the aquarium, Mr. Myers was contacted again by the care center on May 24th saying, "Pluto is doing great!" Giving him and many others hope for this truly special turtle. While Pluto continues to receive care from the Sea Turtle Care Center we give our thanks to Abby and Robert Morris, FISR Boat Duty Captain Jimmy Myers, crew member Scott Momburg, as well as Fripp Island Loggerhead Patrol, DNR, and the Sea Turtle Care Center of the South Carolina Aquarium for their instrumental role in coming together as a team to save Pluto's life
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