PHOTO RELEASE: Coast Guard, partner agencies searching for 2 men in Savannah River near Elba Island

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville Office: 904-714-7606/7607 After Hours: 786-393-4138 PA Detachment Jacksonville online newsroom

Coast Guard, partner agencies searching for 2 men in Savannah River near Elba Island

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SAVANNAH, Ga — Coast Guard and partner agencies are searching for two men after their skiff collided with a dredge in the Savannah River, Friday.

Missing is Joseph and Thomas Fox, brothers, wearing blue shorts and pink shorts. 

Savannah Fire Department personnel are conducting side-scan sonar of the area and Savannah Police Department divers are on standby.

Coast Guard Sector Charleston watchstanders received notification at approximately 9:03 p.m., Friday, from the captain of dredge vessel, Ronnie R, via VHF-FM Channel 16 stating a skiff with seven people aboard collided with the dredge. All seven people went into the water, and five people were rescued by a Ronnie R crew member.

The five rescued people were reported to have some injuries and were taken by emergency medical services to Savannah Memorial Hospital.

Coast Guard assets involved in search:

• Air Station Savannah MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew
• Station Tybee Island 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew
• Station Tybee Island 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew

Partner agencies involved in the search:

• Chatham County Sheriffs Office Marine and Air
• Beaufort County Marine Rescue Operations
• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources 
• Georgia Department of Natural Resources
• Savannah Fire Department
• Tybee Marine Rescue

If anyone has information about this case, please call Sector Charleston Command Center at 843-740-7050.

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-USCG-