Nolan Wells emergency call audio fuels new questions
TMZ says enhanced audio from the Horn Island boating emergency includes muffled lines that listeners are debating as Wells’ family seeks answers.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
Newly enhanced audio from the Nolan Wells emergency call has put fresh attention on the frantic moments after a boat began sinking off Horn Island, with TMZ reporting that muffled background voices have sparked debate online.
TMZ said it isolated portions of the call and that some listeners believe a voice in the background may be asking, “Is he dead?” The outlet said the moment can be heard about 12 seconds into the audio it published.
The outlet stressed that none of the disputed lines has been confirmed. The background conversation is unclear, and TMZ noted that listeners may hear different words in the same audio.
What does the Nolan Wells emergency call say?
According to TMZ, the clearest parts of the recording capture a caller urgently seeking help while telling a Sea Tow dispatcher that the boat is going down and that its bilge pump is not working. A bilge pump removes water from inside a boat; if it fails while water is coming in, the situation can become dangerous fast.
TMZ reported that the caller had trouble answering basic questions during the call before eventually giving the boat’s GPS coordinates to the dispatcher.
In the enhanced clips, TMZ said some people online think they hear someone say “Nolan” shortly before a clearly audible “Oh my God.” Other disputed phrases listeners have pointed to include what could be “Check his chest” and “wake up,” according to TMZ.
One line is not in dispute: TMZ said the caller can be heard shouting, “shut the f*** up.” The outlet did not report who the caller was addressing.
The audio has become a new focus for online sleuths trying to piece together what happened around Horn Island, where Wells’ friends have said he stayed behind after their boat was towed away.
Warren Hudson, identified by TMZ as Wells’ friend, has discussed the events on The Officer Tatum Show. Hudson claimed that someone in the friend group was panicking while trying to get Wells to leave with them, allegedly yelling, “Nolan, get the f*** on the boat.”
TMZ reported that Wells’ friends say he remained on Horn Island when the boat left. His body was later found washed up on the island two days afterward.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department released a statement on the day Wells’ body was found saying that “no foul play was suspected,” according to TMZ.
Wells’ family is still looking for answers, TMZ reported, and the enhanced audio has added another disputed piece to a case already being examined in detail by people following the story online.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.