Accidents of the Week - December 30, 2023

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.

In ‘Christmas Miracle’ Rescue, Hawai’i Paddling Coach Survives Overnight Ordeal

12/14/23 – Honolulu, HI

Paddling coach Nathan Grocholski Lopez experienced one of every paddler’s worst fears — a leash failure that left him stranded in the open ocean at night for more than four hours on 14 December near Pine Trees Beach, Hawai’i.

At about 5:30 p.m., Lopez, his son and three of his son’s friends left Mahi‘ula Beach on the Kona coast to ride big waves in single-man canoes. But after an hour, the fun time turned into a battle for survival for the 46-year-old Lopez. He fell off his canoe, and the leash that kept him tethered to the canoe broke.

Lopez watched his canoe flip over from upside down and right side up as it was carried out to sea. With darkness setting in, he knew his best option was to try to swim the couple miles back to shore.

For three hours, during a wind warning and high surf advisory issued for the Big Island, Lopez’ swimming skills were put to the test by 3- to 4-foot white cap chops and 30- to 40-knot winds that began to blow offshore. His hamstrings cramped, forcing him at times to just float.

But Lopez was lucky. He was rescued by a private snorkeling company.

Liam Powers, owner of Sea Quest Hawai‘i, got a call at around 7 p.m. that Lopez, his son’s paddling coach, had not made it back to shore. Without hesitation, Powers and Sea Quest captains Mike Poerstel and Skyler Marciel headed out in a boat from Keauhou Harbor and beelined north in the pitch-black and howling winds.

‘There He Was, Still Swimming. No Canoe, No Paddle’

“We wouldn’t have gone in the daytime in those conditions,” Powers said. They were the only boat out, but they were on a 30-foot Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat that was designed for such conditions. Powers said he and his crew charged through the wind, with waves crashing over the boat. They were soaked and freezing.

After a 2 1/2-hour search, the Sea Quest captains found Lopez alive swimming in choppy waters 2-1/2 miles off Pine Trees along the North Kona coast. While he was prepared for the worst, Powers eventually heard Lopez over the sound of the boat engine, waves and winds. It was faint, but the yells for help were “primal.” “There he was, still swimming. No canoe, no paddle,” Powers said.

The only way Lopez survived was because of his experience as a waterman and being in good shape, Powers said. Lopez swam for three hours before he was found by Powers and his crew.

“In the dark, you notice every light,” Lopez said, adding he watched the lights in the sky for a helicopter which all turned out to be airplanes. “When I saw Liam’s light it was lower and very bright,” Lopez said. “I swam to put myself in its path and they came directly to me.”

Powers said they wrapped Lopez in towels and brought him to Honokōhau Small Boat Harbor where 100 people were waiting. The boys who went with Lopez had made it safely to shore. “This was a real community effort,” Powers said. “They all would’ve done it for me.”

‘Literally a Christmas Miracle’: Coast Guard

U.S. Coast Guard and Hawai’i Fire Department were also called out that night. Sam Gardner, search and rescue coordinator for the U.S. Coast Guard, said a helicopter was also searching when the Sea Quest vessel spotted Lopez.

“The small boat beat us to him,” Gardner said. “This was an excellent response from the Big Island community.” Gardner said he can count on one hand where a Good Samaritan successfully found someone in those conditions. These types of rescues, Gardner said, don’t usually work out well at night.

“It’s similar to finding a coconut in the water at night,” he said. “You’re only seeing a person for a fraction of a second between waves. It’s literally a Christmas miracle for the outrigger community.”

Coast Guard Suspends Search for Missing Kayaker

12/17/23 – Edmonds, WA

The Coast Guard suspended its search for a missing kayaker near Edmonds, Washington, on Monday 18 December. The man, in his 50s, had left to kayak southwest of Edmonds late on the morning of 17 December, according to the Coast Guard.

Rescue crews aboard a response boat, cutter, and helicopter searched the area for 20 hours before the Coast Guard suspended its search at 9 a.m. the following day. The crews had covered a total 97 square miles of water.

Coast Guard Rescues Kayaker off Florida’s Bradenton Beach

12/18/23 – Clearwater, FL

A Coast Guard Station Cortez boat crew rescued a kayaker on Monday 18 December, after his kayak flipped off the Bradenton Beach Marina in Florida.

A good Samaritan notified Station Cortez’s communications watchstander that a 74-year-old man was in distress. The boat crew arrived on scene, located the kayaker, and brought him to awaiting Manatee County emergency medical services at Anna Maria Oyster Bar. “Station Cortez was able to rescue the kayaker quickly and efficiently thanks to the good Samaritan’s prompt report,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Angel Cisneros, Station Cortez.

“All kayakers are reminded to have a life jacket, sound-making device, and a light if paddling at night,” Cisneros added.

Authorities Recover Body of Duck Hunter Whose Kayak Capsized

12/16/23 - Huntsville, AL

Authorities recovered the body of a 22-year-old man on Monday 18 December, from an Alabama lake where he was last seen duck hunting over the weekend.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Brooks Hardie of Bremen, Georgia, was found dead in the waters of Lake Guntersville nearly two days after state and local authorities began searching for him. The agency said Hardie was last seen alive on the morning of Saturday 16 December.

His kayak overturned as he was duck hunting on the lake roughly 40 miles east of Huntsville.

Boater Missing in Florida’s St. Johns River Found Dead

12/15/23 – Clay Co., FL

A boater who went missing was found dead on Sunday, 17 December, the Sheriff’s Office in Clay County, Florida, reported.

“We are saddened to report that the missing boater has been found deceased,” Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) said in an update on Sunday afternoon. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO) and CCSO had announced on Friday 15 December that they were conducting a search and rescue operation to find the missing boater in the St. Johns River.

Divers, Drone, Helicopter, Marine Units Deployed in Search

Authorities initially reported that the search was focused south of the Shands Bridge, in St. Augustine, with the man believed to have fallen off a boat in that area. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which was leading the search, said a call came in about a man overboard at 1:11 p.m. on 15 December.

Divers, a drone, a helicopter, and marine units were deployed to search for the missing man. SJSO also assisted FWC in the search. Authorities opened up a command center to help search efforts. FWC said that the operation continued until sunset on 15 December, while dive units took over the search after dark. The search operation continued the following morning despite worsening weather conditions.

Two Saved After Boat Sinks Off Miami’s Haulover Inlet

12/19/23 – Haulover Beach, FL

Two people were rescued by crews after their boat sank off Miami’s Haulover Inlet on 19 December.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) arrived at the scene late on the afternoon of Tuesday 19 December. “Air rescue being requested on path two, it’s going to be in reference to a vessel taking on water,” said a dispatcher over Broadcastify police scanner. “88th and Collins Avenue.” The U.S. Coast Guard also joined MDFR during the search for the boaters, while a news chopper hovered over the scene and the boaters were placed on a fire rescue boat.

According to officials, City of Miami Beach Fire Rescue originally received the call of the boaters stranded and referred the incident to MDFR. One of the boaters was on the phone while he was in the water.

“They advise that the vessel is completely submerged, there’s two patients in the water. Ask if they have flares with them before they went down, anything that can give us a visual,” the dispatcher said.

The boaters were in the water for almost an hour. They were transported to a marina by rescue crews. A tow boat arrived at the scene to remove the vessel. What had caused their boat to sink remained under investigation.