Tears Flow Freely As Families Reunite With Missing Divers Found After Intense Search
August 16, 2023
It was an emotional scene after four divers, who were lost and missing in the Atlantic Ocean for more than 12 hours, were found, rescued and reunited with loved ones.
The earth and all its contents are a magnificent and wondrous formation designed by the ultimate Creator. One look at the beautiful, expansive and snow-covered mountain ranges will take your breath away. The vast oceans will leave you in awe, with your jaw dropped. But despite the beauty present in nature, it can often be a dangerous and unforgiving place.
RELATED: Two Young Kids Come To The Rescue, Save Boy Drowning In A Pool
Unfortunately, this is something that four people – Ben Wiggins, 64, Daniel Williams, 46, Luke Lodge, 26, and Evan Williams, 16, - learned the hard way. The four went diving off the Carolina coast on Sunday, according to 13 News Now.
The scary situation started Sunday morning. The four, on a boat, headed out into the ocean, taking part in a recreational dive around 9 a.m. But when all four of them resurfaced about 45 minutes later, they knew they were in serious trouble, according to NBC News.
The ocean’s choppy current that morning had caused their boat to move nearly 300 yards away. Luckily, the outlet reports, all four divers were still able to get to one another.
RELATED: Man And His Dog Survive Months At Sea Before Getting A Miraculous Rescue
On Sunday, the U.S. Coast Guard launched a search and rescue effort for the four men, who had gone diving more than 60 miles off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, 13 News Now reports. Crews searched from the air and sea for the four missing divers.
Then, early Monday morning, around 1 a.m., one of the crews spotted an "SOS strobe light," according to NPR. The four divers had been spotted and were rescued, brought to shore where they were reunited with their families.
All Four Called Out To God For Help and He Answered Their Pleas
One of the rescued divers, Ben Wiggins, who has “decades of specialized Navy diving experience,” remembers himself and his fellow divers calling out to God for help.
“It was a ‘Thank you, God’ because we were all calling out loud, ‘God, please help us,’” Ben told NBC News. “We, I said myself, ‘We need you now. We need you now.’”
The Lord answered those cries for help when he sent members of the search and rescue team their way.
The rescue of those four men was a work of God. One member of the U.S. Coast Guard said the odds of ever finding a raft that small in the ocean is next to zero.
“It’s almost like looking up for a watermelon in a ocean,” Carter Beck, U.S. Coast Guard, said.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Train Driver Acted Fast To Rescue A Scared Pug, Then Came A Tearful Reunion With The Owners
Ben mentioned that when he was reunited with his loved ones, he “broke down.” He also called his and fellow divers’ rescue what it was: “a miracle.”
“Have no fear, for I am with you: do not be looking about in trouble, for I am your God; I will give you strength, yes, I will be your helper: yes, my true right hand will be your support.” – Isaiah 41:10
WATCH: Four Divers Rescued After Being Lost, Stranded In Atlantic Ocean
LISTEN: South Carolina Police Officer Pulls Over Car for Running Red Light, Then Driver Mouths 'Help Me'
h/t: 13 News Now, NPR & YouTube.com/NBC News
Featured Image Credit: YouTube.com/NBC News
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Deepen and Strengthen Your Faith - Your Daily Prayer - October 25
What does it take to deepen and strengthen our faith? 2 Timothy 4:7 likens our faith to running a race: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Deepen and Strengthen Your Faith - Your Daily Prayer - October 25
What does it take to deepen and strengthen our faith? 2 Timothy 4:7 likens our faith to running a race: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Past Stories
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
- Nearly 1,500 Students Gather to Worship Jesus at Texas A&M Revival
- 96-Year-Old Shares the Secret to a Happy Life and His Words of Wisdom Are Truly Inspiring
- In God's Divine Timing, Wedding Ring Is Returned to Man's Widow After It's Lost for 60+ Years
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Steven Curtis Chapman Shares the Heartfelt Message that Helped While Grieving His Daughter
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.