Friends of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old who disappeared during a Fourth of July holiday trip, were heard calling for assistance as their boat began to take on water and malfunction, according to newly released audio. The group had traveled from the Mississippi mainland to Horn Island for the holiday.
Around 4 p.m. on July 4, the operator of the boat, which had approximately seven people on board, contacted authorities. "Hey, we're at the west tip of Horn, and our bilge pump stopped working. We're going. We're sinking. Can you all please come?" the operator said, according to audio obtained by NBC News. "I want to get this boat unsank and towed back."
GPS data indicates the vessel was towed for about three miles before resuming normal speed less than an hour later. The boat returned to its original departure point at 5:44 p.m. Two days after the incident, on July 6, Wells' body was found by officials in the water near the northwest end of Horn Island.