Accidents of the Week - January 17, 2026
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Person Hospitalized After Sailboat Catches Fire
10/18/25 – Ventura Co., CA
The Sea Warrior, a 24-foot sailboat, caught fire while being refueled at the Channel Islands Harbor in Ventura County, California, resulting in one person being hospitalized. The extent of the person's injuries and their condition was not publicly released.
Firefighters towed the burning boat away from the fueling station and into more open waters as part of the response, explained the Ventura County Fire Department.
The fire sent up large plumes of black smoke, but firefighters were able to successfully extinguish the flames using firefighting vessels.
Kayaker Rescued Off Florida Coast
1/6/26 – Lauderdale By the Sea, FL
Authorities came to the rescue of a kayaker off the coast of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Florida, on 6 January.
The crew of a Broward County Sheriff’s Office fire boat pulled a man wearing a black jersey onto their craft along with his blue kayak off South Ocean Boulevard at around 10:30 a.m. The rescue crew also included a helicopter and lifeguards on personal watercraft who were searching the area for the individual.
After rescuers were able to safely bring the man on board, they checked him out and worked to help him bring in the fishing reels and line that he had deployed in the area. The man appeared to be safe after first responders rushed to his aid.
Coast Guard Saves Boaters, Cat, Dog 65 Miles Offshore
12/30/25 – Cape Hatteras, NC
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two people and their cat and dog from a disabled boat located 65 miles off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard East's Facebook page, the 40-foot catamaran, which had a torn jib sail, was initially making progress toward land using its diesel engine. However, the passengers discovered a small hole in the boat and encountered worsening weather conditions, including 18-foot waves.
Coast Guard Alerted to Boaters’ Plight by EPIRB
At that point, they activated the Emergency Positioning Indicator Radio Beacon (EPIRB) to signal the Coast Guard for assistance.
James Butz, a member of the four-person air station Elizabeth City MH-60 helicopter crew, swam to the vessel where the couple and their pets were waiting. He reported that the first survivor carried the cat in a dry bag, while the second survivor, accompanied by a dog wearing a flotation device, followed shortly after.
"They were well prepared," Butz noted. He described the rescue as a true team effort and an unforgettable experience, emphasizing the satisfaction of responding to such a critical call.
Lifeguards Rescue Operator, Capsized Boat
12/29/25 – Port Orange, FL
Ocean Rescue Lifeguards in Port Orange, Florida, used a rescue watercraft to help a capsized catamaran off Ponce Inlet on 29 December.
Lifeguards said that the vessel operator couldn’t right the boat because strong offshore winds pushed it farther from shore.
A second personal rescue watercraft also responded to the scene, along with a helicopter from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office. The rescue operation took approximately one hour and 15 minutes to complete.
The teamwork between the Ocean Rescue Lifeguards and the Sheriff’s Office successfully ensured the safe return of the catamaran and its operator.
Police Use Drone to Help Rescue Stranded Boat
1/5/26 – Nahant, MA
The Police Department in Nahant, Massachusetts, assisted in a boat rescue on 5 January after the vessel lost power near Lynn Harbor and was drifting toward a series of rocks.
Using the Emergency Management Department’s drone, Police Sgt. Andrew Constantine managed to hover it over the boat until State Police and the U.S. Coast Guard were able to assist the occupants.
Police Chief Timothy Furlong said the boat lost power, and the occupants appeared to use seat cushions to paddle their way to shore while the boat drifted toward rocks. He said the three occupants did not require any medical attention after they were rescued.
Boaters Signaled SOS with Flashlight
Furlong added that the Fire Department and Harbormaster boats were on a dry dock for the winter. He said the Police Department had no other option than to reach out to the U.S. Coast Guard and State Police.
“We received a phone call from a resident at Bass Point Apartments. She alerted us that a boat appeared to be in distress in the channel coming into Lynn Harbor. We sent officers over there, along with the drone… It was starting to get dark and really cold,” Furlong said.
“Sgt. Andrew Constantine was able to hover the drone directly over the boat that appeared to have no power; they were flashing what appeared to be a flashlight in an SOS pattern.” He noted there were three occupants aboard the vessel.
He added that, in collaboration with the State Police and the U.S. Coast Guard, they were able to get two responding rescue boats to the location. Furlong said the collaboration ended with State Police towing the stranded vessel to a boat ramp.
7 Hospitalized After 2 Airboats Crash
1/6/26 – Desoto Co., FL
Seven people were hospitalized after two commercial airboats crashed along the Peace River in DeSoto County on 6 January.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the two airboat tours were traveling along the Peace River just north of the Lettuce Lake Boat Ramp when a collision occurred.
One operator and six passengers were on board one of the airboats. Officials said five of the people aboard were injured and taken to nearby hospitals. The second airboat had one operator and two passengers on board. According to FWC, two people on board were taken to hospitals.
FWC said both airboats were commercial vessels and the U.S. Coast Guard was leading the ongoing investigation. The DeSoto County Sheriff's Office and DeSoto County Fire Rescue also helped with the response to the incident.
Coast Guard, Guam Fire Department Rescue 45 People
10/10/25 – Santa Rita, GU
Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard and Guam Fire Department rescued 45 people from a disabled passenger vessel off Agat, Guam, on 10 October.
A Guam Fire Rescue 3 crew arrived on the scene off Agat Bay at 10 a.m. and reported smoke coming from the engine compartment of the Princess Guam, a 45-foot catamaran.
Two 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crews and a 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Coast Guard Station Apra Harbor evacuated 45 passengers from the catamaran and transported them back to Agat Marina. An RB-M crew then put the Princess Guam in tow and returned it safely to the marina.
Coast Guard Highlights Teamwork in Rescue
“Strong teamwork with the Guam Fire Department was a critical component of today’s mission,” said Lt. Cmdr. Derek Wallin, search and rescue mission coordinator, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam. “Through our joint efforts, we successfully rescued 45 people, demonstrating the strength of our partnership and unwavering commitment to mariner safety.”
At 9:30 a.m., U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders received a notification on VHF-FM channel 16 from the Princess Guam reporting smoke coming from the engine compartment. Watchstanders notified Guam Fire Rescue 3 and directed the launch of the boat crews from Station Apra Harbor.
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