Accidents of the Week

Accidents of the Week - April 12, 2025

Accidents, Boat Wrecks, MOB, Crew Save, USCG, Sailors Stranded, Left at Sea

BoatTEST publishes “Accidents of the Week” as a public service for our VIP Subscribers to acquaint them with potential boating dangers and by inference their prevention.

Stranded Boater Rescued Thanks to Passing Chopper

3/27/25 – Las Vegas, NV

Accidents of the week, Boat Fire, Grounding, USCG, Drownings, Rescue Efforts

A stranded boater was rescued after the hull of her vessel was spotted by a passing CBP helicopter.

A boater stranded for a day after crashing along a remote stretch of the Colorado River was rescued thanks to a helicopter that happened to spot her wrecked vessel while flying by, officials said.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter was returning to its base in Yuma, Arizona, on 27 March, when the crew noticed something in the water below — the hull of a capsized boat, the agency said in a 29 March news release. The boat was 22 miles south from the Hoover Dam, in a “remote area” without cell service and outside of radio range, according to CBP.

In a photo shared by officials, the boat appeared to have crashed in an inlet tucked behind a hill, and would be difficult to see from ground level or on the main river. The chopper landed on a riverbank and spoke with a woman who said she had been stranded at the inlet since the day before, officials said.

Boater Lost Consciousness in Crash

National Park Service rangers arrived at the scene by boat and assisted with the rescue. It’s not clear how the crash happened, but the woman told rescuers that she hit her head and lost consciousness.

“The aircrew provided fresh water and food to the woman, as she had not eaten or drank clean water since before the accident,” CBP officials said. The helicopter pilot lifted off “and climbed to an altitude where he regained cell service” in order to contact Las Vegas police.

Search and rescue crews with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the National Park Service responded to the scene and helped transport the woman to a hospital for treatment, police said in a news release.

Nine Escape Unharmed After Boat Sinks in Texas Bayou

3/30/25 – Orange, TX

Accidents of the week, Boat Fire, Grounding, USCG, Drownings, Rescue Efforts

Eight adults and a child were pulled from the water onto a passing boat after their vessel overturned.

A large group of people narrowly avoided disaster after flipping their boat on Adams Bayou in Orange, Texas, on the night of 30 March.

Game wardens responded after receiving word that a boat carrying eight adults and one child had overturned near the Orange Boat Club. Luckily, another boat passing by was able to get everyone out of the water safely.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Captain Ryan Hall says that the game warden responding to the scene reported that no violations were found while investigating.

No injuries were reported according to Captain Hall.

Crews Rescue Two from Impaled Fishing Boat

3/29/25 – Dayton, OH

Accidents of the week, Boat Fire, Grounding, USCG, Drownings, Rescue Efforts

Two fishermen were rescued after their boat was impaled on an underwater sign.

Two men were rescued from a fishing boat trapped on Ohio’s Lake Loramie over the weekend of 29 to 30 March.

According to local news reports, the incident occurred on 29 March after the boat struck an underwater sign, impaling and trapping it in place. The boat soon began to take on water as well.

Crews from the Fort Loramie Fire Department, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and other people fishing on the lake at the time arrived to the scene and rescued the two from the boat. No injuries were reported.

Surfers Save Fishermen After Boat Capsizes

3/28/25 – San Diego, CA

Accidents of the week, Boat Fire, Grounding, USCG, Drownings, Rescue Efforts

Fisherman Omar Jaber shook hands with the surfers who pulled him from the water.

Two fishermen were rescued after the boat they were in capsized from a wave near Southern California’s Point Loma.

Omar Jaber, a U.S. veteran, and his friend go out weekly to fish on a 22-foot motorboat. But on 28 March, their routine trip took a turn for the worse. The conditions, Jaber recalled, had been good, when out of nowhere a wave slammed into their boat.

The impact sent Jaber flying into the water, with fishing line tangled around his feet and legs in a way that prevented him from swimming. “I have been in combat. I’ve seen a lot of situations and I think this was closest situation to death that I’ve had in my life,” said Jaber.

About 600 feet away, three hydrofoil surfers with a personal watercraft saw the boat capsize and sprang into action. “I’m telling Randy, ‘Let’s go, let’s go! These guys need help!” said Dave Beal, one of the surfers who rescued Jaber and his friend.

With Waves ‘It’s Hard to See People in the Water’: Surfer

“Randy swung the back of the jet ski around close enough for me to grab him and I grabbed him,” Beal added. The surfers pulled Jaber out first and took him to safety, before going back to get his friend. Both men escaped unscathed and called the surfers their heroes.

“I’m sure at some point they’d be hypothermic and dead,” said Randy Leavitt, another surfer who helped with the rescue. “At sea, these things can happen fast. It’s hard to see people in the water when waves are happening.”

There were life jackets on board, but Jaber admitted he wasn’t wearing one. Moving forward, he added, he will always wear a PFD.

Two Rescued from Island After Kayak Flips Over

3/31/25 – Fresno Co., CA

Accidents of the week, Boat Fire, Grounding, USCG, Drownings, Rescue Efforts

Fire Department crews rescued two kayakers from an island in ‘swift and cold waters.

Two people were rescued on the morning of 31 March from California’s San Joaquin River after their kayak flipped over, trapping them on a small island.

The Fresno County Fire Department reported that crews from Fresno and Madera had responded to a call at around 10:30 a.m. When they arrived, they found two male kayakers stranded on a small piece of land 50 to 100 feet from shore.

Swift and cold waters kept the two from swimming to safety. Crews were able to bring in a boat and rescue the people.

Investigations showed that one man fell into the water while kayaking. When another tried to rescue him, they were both trapped on the island. No injuries were reported.

Coast Guard, Local Agencies Rescue Kite Surfer

3/29/25 – Fort Pierce, FL

Accidents of the week, Boat Fire, Grounding, USCG, Drownings, Rescue Efforts

A grateful kite surfer posed with the Coast Guard crew that returned him to shore safely.

The U.S. Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce responded to a kite surfer in distress off Florida’s Fort Pierce Inlet on 29 March.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard News, the kite surfer was struggling against strong winds and could not return to shore. A call from a good Samaritan around 1 p.m. prompted Sector Miami watchstanders to issue an urgent marine information broadcast.

As the Coast Guard boat crew arrived, they were assisted by crews from the Fort Pierce Police Department, St. Lucie Police, and St. Lucie Fire Rescue. The kite surfer was safely returned to shore with no injuries.

50-Foot Yacht Catches Fire in Florida Harbor

3/29/25 – Clearwater, FL

Accidents of the week, Boat Fire, Grounding, USCG, Drownings, Rescue Efforts

Two boaters escaped unscathed after a 50-foot yacht caught fire in Florida's Clearwater Harbor.

A 50-foot yacht caught fire in Florida's Clearwater Harbor on 29 March.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) stated that a good Samaritan brought two boaters from the yacht to the Clearwater Harbor Marina to report the fire and meet emergency medical services. After the fire was reported, the USCG and partners began to put the fire out.

No injuries were reported at the time.

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