Manatee rescued after becoming stranded

Staff, golfers and local authorities teamed up November 22nd to help a stranded manatee return safely to open water after it became beached near the ninth hole at Crescent Pointe Golf Club.

The incident occurred when two golfers spotted the manatee on shore and contacted the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Ron Schiavone, the club’s general manager, worked with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office to clear the surrounding area and redirect golfers while officials determined how to assist the animal.

Cpl. Dean Entrup of the Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and stayed in communication with SCDNR and its partners in Florida, who advised on how to keep the manatee stable until a safe plan could be carried out. That guidance included lightly hydrating the animal with misting and damp towels while avoiding excessive water or cold exposure.

Several Crescent Pointe employees and community members helped carry out those instructions. Staff members shuttled back and forth transporting buckets of water until a better setup could be arranged. Brian Roller, the club’s director of agronomy, connected a hose to an irrigation line to provide consistent misting. Others nearby assisted in monitoring the animal and keeping the area clear.

The team continued those efforts for several hours while officials monitored the tide. As the water rose, the manatee began to move on its own and was eventually able to swim back into deeper water.

Authorities later searched nearby inlets and reported that the animal could no longer be located, indicating it had successfully returned to open water.

Crescent Pointe staff credited the coordinated response among golfers, employees, the Sheriff’s Office and SCDNR with stabilizing the animal long enough for the tide to return.