IPhone 16 Lost in the Ocean, Recovered and Returned North Myrtle Beach SC
This recovery started on Saturday night about 9 pm when I received the following text. “Hi! My girlfriend lost her phone during a walk on the sand bar during low tide about an hour ago between 16th and 13th street in North Myrtle. The tide started coming in, so we had to limit our search to 10 minutes. We’re wondering if you’d be able to help us look for it during low tide in the morning. We know approximately where it was dropped. I know tomorrow is Easter, but please let us know if you are available.” I called the number attached to the text and talked with Maria, who lost the phone. First, I wanted to confirm the location, as to whether it was a North or South Ave in North Myrtle Beach. I also wanted to get some more details. Maria told me that her and her boyfriend, Joe, were walking on the sand bars and at some point, the phone came out of her pocket. When she confirmed she lost the phone on the side south, I decided to take a ride and look at the parking situation. I ended up stopping by the condo they were at and got to meet them. I learned the last location she was able to get from the phone was between 14th and 15th Ave South. She also told me again about walking on the sand bars and at one point she was on her hands and knees trying to feel for the phone in the water.
Today, Easter Sunday, I was on the beach at 6 am working the water between the sand bar and the beach. I ran into Maria and Joe around 6:30 as I was searching. I had misunderstood Maria and thought she lost the phone between the sand bars and the beach. She had actually lost it going through inlets between sand bars. I also thought and told her, that I suspected the phone would be lying on the bottom. The sand was hard packed, and I didn’t think the phone would settle in the sand, was proved wrong on that assumption. So, Maria got me squared away on where she thought the phone might be. I started checking the inlets between the sand bars and on the 3rd inlet I hit a strong target. I dug 3 full scoops of sand before I got the target out of the hole. I had to be careful that if this was the phone, I didn’t want to break it with the scoop. As I pulled out the 3rd scoop of sand, I saw the red and white checkered case hanging out about an inch from between the sand. Maria saw it about the same time and reached down and pulled it out from the sand scoop. She was so excited. I’ve heard the newer I Phones are waterproof, and I guess they are. This one had been in the ocean, buried in sand for almost 12 hours and it turned right on, and she was able to call Joe’s phone. Vacation, her pictures and Easter Sunday all saved!!
Maria – Thank you for trusting me to help find your phone. Wish you and Joe all the best and enjoy the rest of your vacation.
Jim
