HYDE COUNTY — Two mariners were pulled from the Pamlico Sound and two remained missing Wednesday afternoon after a Hyde County fishing vessel sank Tuesday evening. One of the rescued mariners later died at Elizabeth City’s Sentara Albemarle Hospital on Wednesday morning.

According to a Coast Guard Public Affairs spokesperson, the search for the two missing crew members was expected to continue through Wednesday night.

Because the sinking is still under investigation and the search is still ongoing, the Coast Guard declined to release the names of the two individuals rescued or the two who remain missing.

According to a U.S. Coast Guard press release, watchstanders at the USCG Fifth District Command Center received a distress signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon registered to the Hyde County fishing vessel “Papa’s Girl” on Tuesday evening. The signal was picked up just after 7 p.m., according to U.S. Coast Guard Senior Chief Delano.

A 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Hatteras Inlet and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City were launched to respond.

Delano went on to say that the two individuals rescued from the wreck were found early Wednesday morning. One was on a life raft and the other was in the water, and both were suffering from hypothermia.

According to the Coast Guard release, the two rescued crew members were transferred by air to Sentata Albemarle Hospital for further medical care. One of the mariners required CPR and was later pronounced dead by hospital staff, the release says.

A first-light search Wednesday morning by Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City aircrew members failed to find the two missing crew members. A motor lifeboat crew from Station Hatteras Inlet, along with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and a good Samaritan vessel by the name of Aubrey Niel, continued the search Wednesday afternoon.

“This is a rough case and as we continue to search, our thoughts are with the families of the mariners,” said Matthew Brooks, search and rescue coordinator for the case. “We’re grateful for the EPIRB that was activated during the case, which enabled us to get resources on-scene as quickly as possible. A properly registered EPIRB is a vital and highly recommended piece of equipment for mariners to have on their vessels.”

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