Accidents of the Week – June 24, 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.
Coast Guard Rescues Four Boaters from Sinking Vessel
6/11/23 – Morgan City, LA
The Coast Guard rescued four boaters from a vessel that was taking on water 20 miles from Morgan City, Louisiana. According to a statement released by the Coast Guard, “Sector New Orleans watchstanders received a notification via VHF-FM channel 16 at 10:30 p.m. from the crew of the 75-foot recreational vessel, stating they were taking on water and unable to keep up with the incoming water.”
The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office was also notified by watchstanders, and proceeded to launch a boat crew of their own.
A Coast Guard helicopter crew arrived on scene, hoisted the four boaters, and transferred them to Lakefront Airport in New Orleans. No injuries were reported.
Coast Guard Rescues Man Overboard Clinging to Ice Chest
6/10/23 – Corpus Christi, TX
The Coast Guard rescued a man from waters near Corpus Christi, Texas, on 10 June. The Corpus Christi sector received a call around 4:43 in the afternoon that a man had fallen off a 16-foot sailboat, 12 miles from the town’s Bob Hall Pier.
The man was found clinging to an ice chest and not wearing a life jacket. The other two adults aboard the sailboat had lost sight of him. Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi and Coast Guard Station Port Aransas searched for the boater until 6:15 p.m. when the boat crew spotted him and pulled him out of the water.
The man was uninjured and was returned to the sailboat and his friends.
Firefighters Respond to Boat Crash in Baltimore
6/11/23 – Baltimore, MD
Firefighters were called on 11 June to respond to a boat crash at a marina in Fells Point, Baltimore. The call came for officials to respond to the 1000 block of Fell Street.
Officials declared that no injuries had been reported and there were no reports of fuel leaks caused by the crash.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police were investigating the incident.
Man, Woman Rescued by Coast Guard After Falling Off PWC
6/10/23 – Kemah, TX
Two people were being swept out to sea by currents after falling off their jet ski near Kemah, Texas, on the evening of 10 June, and were rescued by Coast Guard responders.
Someone spotted the man and woman fall into the water and drift toward the channel. The good Samaritan who saw reported it to Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders at 6:37 p.m., according to a Coast Guard news release. The pair were wearing life jackets and waving their arms after the fall.
Coast Guard highlights use of PFDs, kill switch lanyard
Coast Guard Station Houston sent a small crew on a 29-foot response boat, who went on to save the man and woman as the two were out of the water within minutes of the good Samaritan's report, the news release stated. The man, woman, and jet ski were taken to the local Blue Marlin Marina.
According to a Facebook post on the incident by the US Coast Guard, these jet skiers “made two key decisions that helped save their lives: Wear a life jacket, and wear a kill switch lanyard, which shuts off the engine when disconnected.”
Coast Guard Rescues 3 People from Capsized Vessel Near Port Everglades
6/10/23 – Miami, FL
A Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale boat crew rescued three people on 10 June, after their 18-foot vessel capsized near Port Everglades, north of Miami. No injuries were reported.
A good Samaritan notified Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders at approximately 6 p.m. of a vessel taking on water, 1 mile east of Port Everglades. The Coast Guard rescue crew arrived on scene and embarked three individuals who were hanging onto the hull of their vessel.
The rescued individuals were transferred back to shore. Commercial salvage arrived on scene to assist with the capsized vessel.
Coast Guard Rescues Boaters Over 20 Miles Offshore
6/10/23 - Jacksonville, FL
When a fishing boat carrying four people started taking on water, the U.S. Coast Guard was called in to help. The call for assistance came in on 10 June, when the boaters were approximately 23 miles offshore.
A Jacksonville-based crew was able to locate the vessel and escort it to a nearby marina. Everyone was able to get to shore safely.
Boater’s Body Recovered in Tennessee Lake
6/10/23 – Knoxville, TN
A boater’s body was found at Fort Loudoun Lake on 10 June, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA). The body was identified as Charles Egbuniwe, 22, of Knoxville.
TWRA officials said that around 2 p.m., Egbuniwe was swimming from a boat toward the shore when he went under and did not resurface. Witnesses assisted Knox County Rescue Squad to pinpoint where Egbuniwe went underwater.
Officials highlight ‘Reach, Throw, Row, Go’ system for people in distress
TWRA officials said a search team was able to locate the Egbuniwe’s body with sonar. A diver recovered his body around 4:50 p.m.
TWRA encouraged everyone to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while boating and swimming. They provided a guide to help if someone in the water is in distress, based on the “Reach, Throw, Row, Go” method:
Reach – Extend a fishing rod, branch, oar, towel, or other objects to REACH out to the victim and pull him or her to safety. If nothing is available, lie flat on the dock or boat, grab the victim’s hand or wrist, and pull him or her to safety.
Throw – If the victim is too far away to reach and a boat isn’t handy, THROW the victim a Personal Floatation Device or anything else that will float.
Row – If a rowboat is available, ROW to the victim and then use an oar or paddle to pull the victim to the stern. Let the victim hold onto the stern as you paddle to shore. If the victim is too weak, hold onto him or her until help arrives. If using a powerboat, stop the engine and glide to the victim from the downwind side.
Go – Swimmers without lifesaving training should not swim to a victim. Instead, GO for help. If you must swim, take along anything that floats to keep between you and the victim.
TWRA said this was the 13th boating fatality in Tennessee this year.
Search Called Off for Missing Kayaker on Washington State River
6/3/23 – Klickitat Co., WA
Search and rescue officials called off a search for a woman who fell out of her boat into the frigid waters of the Klickitat River in Washington State, on Saturday 3 June.
Sandy Sridhar, 29, was kayaking with her husband in a two-person inflatable kayak when the boat got stuck on the Low Head Dam near the Klickitat Fish Hatchery. Both Sridhar and her husband fell out of the boat.
He was able to make it to the shore and contacted officials with the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office. Sridhar was not wearing a life jacket or a dry suit.
Coast Guard Rescues Man from Grounded Boat in South Carolina
6/12/23 – Charleston, SC
A Coast Guard air crew rescued a stranded boater in South Carolina on 12 June, after his vessel became grounded. The helicopter crew hoisted the man from the 24-foot boat in Bulls Bay, 30 miles northeast of Charleston.
A commercial salvage company made the call to Coast Guard Sector Charleston at around 5 p.m., saying they had spotted a boat with one person aboard who needed assistance.
Coast Guard urges boaters to check tides, make safe speed
"The tidal fluctuations in our area can be extreme and prevent even shallow water rescue boats from being able to reach you in some areas," said Lt. Tucker Williams, an Air Station Savannah copilot on the case.
"Checking the tides before boating and making safe speed in unfamiliar water can help prevent you from getting stuck in an emergency situation," Williams added. The helicopter was taken to the Mount Pleasant Regional Airport and the man had no reported medical concerns, the Coast Guard said.
An Isle of Palms Fire Department airboat crew also responded to the scene but was unable to reach the man because of the water depth.
Fire Department Rescues Boaters from Pensacola Bay
6/12/23 – Pensacola, FL
The Pensacola Fire Department (PFD) responded to a boat that capsized in Pensacola Bay on Monday, June 12.
PFD sources explained that an anchored boat had capsized at 11:55 a.m., due to rough waters in the bay, and the fire boat was on scene at noon. Three individuals were rescued and evaluated by EMS before being released, according to authorities.