Spent several hours with Tristen’s father last night going over the incident and possibilities for recovery. The family is asking if you fish this weekend to go north if possible and keep a eye out. It’s heartbreaking what this poor family is going through and would be good to at the very least to help them find some closure.
Tristen was wearing shorts and a rashguard. Diving a steel lp tank and had 12 pounds on his weight belt. He has a 36" speargun attached to him with a lanyard and the speargun line may be hanging down from the gun. He also had a inflatable safety tube and whistle on him. After the dive on the surface behind the boat Tristen was talking to the guys in the boat and took his fin off to untangle his speargun line off his foot. He leaned backwards like he was removing his weight belt and sank down out of sight.
The coast guard dropped several tracking devices at the spot he was last seen to mimic a diver in the water at varying levels of buoyancy. Negative, neutral, and buoyant. the buoyant buoy drifted at a 314* heading. The other buoys hardly moved for 2 days.
They were diving the APC’s in the SE part of the chs 60. The approximate location they saw him sink was N32 33.104 W79 40.142
Any divers continuing to search the 60 may want to try the areas bearing 314* (North-NNE of that location) With 12 pounds of weight, steel tank, no wetsuit he had to be pretty negatively buoyant for some time. The speargun and loose loop of speargun line attached to him could snag the bottom structure.
This update (last night for today’s search)is from Billy Tanner who is helping the Allen family coordinate the search and is supplemental only to Charleston Diving’s information.
"The computer models are spreading out. I would like to make it easier to share the information we are planning for tomorrow. The fastest float grids are too far for Charleston recreational boats to safely run the grid. We intend to have large, fast boats ready to assist the larger planes to work the fast grids which are now further north. However, after vast efforts and input from the most qualified professionals and review of the weather patterns we believe the attached charts are the best information we can provide to local recreational boaters and divers. The yellow swirls are know areas of tidal rotations that might hold a diver. The blue box represents where the government officials continue to focus their efforts. (Feel free to search in area but give respect to the government boats and divers working) The dark line line is for larger recreational boats to consider searching. The dotted line is for smaller recreational boats to consider.
I will be with the larger planes working the fast float grids. Please be careful, but if you need information about fuel resources, or anything else please feel free to reach out by text to Robert Allen 615 439 5746 or Billy Tanner for more search details or assistance with resources."
I am trying to get my boat back up and running and after speaking with Billy, he recommended a line from Y73 south to the Edisto 60 for today if you are planning to get out there.
J. DeStefano
“I won’t insult your intelligence by suggesting you really believe what you just said”
William F. Buckley, Jr.
Rob,
When I dove sunday the current was ripping. 9 out of 10 for charleston. It would have been the same for saturday given the full moon tides. This was not just a surface current. Is this significant current factor not taken into account for the CG tracking devices? If he sank, he would have drifted miles before hitting the bottom with that current. If i remember correctly it was a strong SW current. I am terribly sorry for their current loss and horrible situation. Am I missing something here with loss of accountability for that current and the variances associated with it?
I was originally thinking the same thing with the super moon and big tides. The coast guard dropped multiple tracking devices in the water with different levels of bouyancy. one was even set up to mimick the divers weight and equipment giving solid real data of the drift. Also the speargun is attached to him via lanyard and the possibility that 18’ or so of speargun line could be hanging off the end of the gun to snag on the bottom structure. Makes me think it is possible he could be in that same general area for a while.
Good to know. I guess even though the current may be strong pulling you in one direction doesn’t mean it isn’t part of an eddy system type current which would keep you in a bigger circle or square area… Who knows I guess. I hope he is found and the family gets a piece of mind.
Rob, just want to say its awesome that you are helping out the family. I can’t imagine what they are going through and the community response is an amazing thing. Hope he is found soon.
Search is over for Tristen. Heartbreaking for this poor family. With my son’s diagnoses we have felt what the Allen Family is going through. Just heartbroken for them.
From Tristin’s father Sam It was with the heaviest possible hearts that the Allen family (Samuel, Susan and daughter Katherine) turned over the investigation and search for Tristen Allen, 18 years old (having just graduated from James Island High School and proudly on his way to The Citadel), solely to the public agencies to continue to look for their beloved son and brother.
The combined agency and private search teams had gathered enough evidence, combined with the elapsed time since the accident occurred July 12, to draw the conclusion that Tristen is not likely to be found alive. The investigative agencies have advised the family that full confirmation may not be available for weeks to come. The search by government agencies will continue for further evidence, but the private search teams have formally ended their search.
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Rob Harding
236 Sailfish 250 4s Yam https://www.facebook.com/groups/hope4cameron/ (Fish not Biting? Try a fast presentation of spring steel)</font id=“green”>
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
Heard about it on the day after seeing search and rescue inshore
of our sunday fishing. Always have that bad feeling of loss when
this happens. Hugging my 17 year old a little tighter since.
Wishing the entire family to go from strength to strength.
Just saw news report that his body has been found and identified. Hope this helps his family with closure. Much condolences to his family, especially his Dad
We were at the jetties yesterday afternoon when a Coast Guard fast boat pulled along side of a sporty and 2 Coasties boarded the sporty. I wonder if they were the recovery boat.
It’s been a horrible story, at least the family can be at ease with his recovery.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 19 year old (boy of leisure)
1 - 1 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
