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7th Coast Guard District

U.S. Coast Guard

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News Release

Date: July 2, 2010

Contact: Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Evanson

(305) 318-1864

*Update: Photo Available* Coast Guard Searching for missing North Carolina man off coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Thomas "Andy" Richmond of Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.
Coast Guard and local authorities are currently searching for Thomas "Andy" Richmond of Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. after his boat washed ashore near Myrtle Beach, S.C., Thursday July 1, 2010. Photo by the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Coast Guard, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division are searching for a missing boater approximately 11-miles southeast of Myrtle Beach Friday.

Missing is Thomas "Andy" Richmond of Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.

Coast Guard Sector Charleston, S.C., search-and-rescue coordinators received a call at 11:20 p.m. Thursday that the unmanned 28ft boat "Heads or Tails" was located on the beach with its engines running. The boat is reportedly owned by Richmond.

The Coast Guard launched a MH-65 rescue helicopter crew from Air Facility Charleston, a MHC-130 air crew from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and 47-foot rescue boat crews from Coast Guard Station Georgetown, S.C., and Station Oak Island, N.C.

In addition, the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Yellowfin, homeported in Charleston, and the 140-foot Coast Guard Cutter Thunder Bay, homeported in Rockland, Maine, are also assisting in the search.

The Coast Guard is asking that anybody with information about or the whereabouts of Richmond, please contact the Coast Guard command center in Charleston at 843-740-7050.

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