Nolan Wells’ death is still under investigation, but a rescuer who helped search for the missing football player believes the dangerous waters around Mississippi’s Horn Island could explain what happened. Brian Trascher, national vice president of the United Cajun Navy, told The U.S. Sun that the northwest tip of the island has powerful currents and a sudden underwater drop-off that can quickly pull someone into deep water. His comments come as authorities await autopsy results, while Nolan’s family continues to seek answers through an independent investigation alongside the official probe.
Brian Trascher explains why Horn Island’s northwest tip can turn dangerous
Nolan Wells, 18, disappeared on July 4 after traveling with friends to Horn Island, about 10 miles off the Mississippi Gulf Coast, before he was due to report for football camp at Southwest Mississippi Community College on July 6.Brian Trascher said the weather looked calm during the search, but the water itself posed a hidden danger.“[It] was mostly calm, very, very shiny, hot. Water temperature [was] in the 80s,” he told The U.S. Sun.According to investigators, Nolan was last seen between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Friends later reported boat problems and made a distress call around 4 p.m. In the recorded call released by NBC News, a man says, “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? I want to get this boat unsank and towed back.”GPS data from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources shows the boat left the island at 4:31 p.m. and returned to its private dock at 6:06 p.m. Some friends later told investigators that Nolan chose to stay behind after meeting a young woman and planned to return with another group.Trascher said the area where Nolan was last seen is especially risky.“That island, they have a very strong current on the northwest tip. From what people [who were] there told me, it’s very strong there. The other thing to have in mind is that there’s a drop-off on that side. And, so, you can be in three feet of water, and then, the next step, you could be in 20 feet of water. If all of a sudden, you’re 20 feet in the water and a current starts carrying you, it can drag you out fast, violently.”Search coordinator Josh Gill also told The U.S. Sun, “There is a pretty heavy tidal surge and tidal movement on that portion of the island where they were at.”He added, “It’s a pass between two islands. So, there’s increased tidal influence there, along with wind and wave action. Conditions can change rapidly there.”
Nolan Wells investigation continues as family seeks more answers
Trascher said he was flying about 400 feet above the island on July 6 when search teams spotted a body near the northwest shore.“Even though I was about 400 feet or so, I could see the body. I was zooming in with my land gear so I could get a closer look, it matches the description of what he was wearing. So we were pretty sure, without confirmation, that was probably him. When we came back, the sheriff had said they had people there that had eyes on him right there on the beach. Their words were, there was no reason to think it’s not him.”Authorities have said preliminary evidence points to accidental drowning, and they have not found evidence of foul play. A final cause of death is pending an autopsy. Attorney Ben Crump said the case will be presented to a grand jury after the sheriff’s investigation, adding, “The hope is that when this is presented to the grand jury, all relevant witnesses and evidence will be presented to them, so that we can have a fair and impartial investigation into the death of Nolan.” He also said, “We also agreed that we would have a mutual inspection of the cell phone, with our experts and their experts,” and officials will assist “with the cellphone downloads, so everybody will be able to see at the same time what the cellphone has.”