The family of Walter F. Schwuchow III was relieved to hear that their son and three other crewmen aboard the Whitewater II are doing OK and heading back to Charleston after the 63-foot commercial fishing vessel was struck by lightning. The report said that the Whitewater II’s crew contacted the Coast Guard in Jacksonville, Fla., via radio about 4 a.m. Wednesday and reported that a lightning strike had knocked out their navigational equipment on Monday.
Petty Officer Cindy Beckert informed that it was the first time anyone had heard from the boat since Sunday. Schwuchow’s father, Buddy Schwuchow said that he feel a lot better than not knowing anything. The last contact that the ship had made was via satellite phone about 5 p.m. Sunday. Its last known location was about 230 miles off the coast of Mayport, Fla.
After having the contact signal form the ship the Coast Guard had sent out a C-130 long-range surveillance aircraft from Clearwater, Fla., to search for the missing boaters. Beckert stressed the importance of filing a float plan, as the Whitewater II did.
