Former University of South Carolina quarterback Chris Smelley, who was reported lacking on Thursday, has been positioned by the U.S. Coast Guard practically 12 hours after he was seen leaving to go fishing within the Gulf of Mexico, regulation enforcement in Florida confirmed.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Workplace put out a press launch asking for assist in finding the 37-year-old former SEC player, who was final seen at round 8:30 a.m. when he went fishing in a kayak within the Gulf of Mexico off Grayton Seashore.
A number of native businesses, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife company have been known as in to affix the search.
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Almost 12 hours after he was final seen, authorities confirmed that Smelley had been positioned safely.
The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans dispatched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, which discovered Smelley roughly two miles off the coast of Grayton Seashore.
Footage shared by the Coast Guard on X confirmed the second rescuers positioned his lone kayak. He was transferred to a pal’s vessel that had been looking for him within the space, officers mentioned.
Smelley performed three seasons with the South Carolina Gamecocks from 2006-2008. He was 9-6 because the workforce’s beginning quarterback. In his last season, he accomplished 169 passes for 1,922 yards and 14 touchdowns throughout 12 video games.
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He later transferred to Alabama in 2009 to play for the Crimson Tide baseball workforce.
Smelley now serves as the top soccer coach at Sylacauga Excessive Faculty.
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