Accidents of the Week - May 17, 2025
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Coast Guard Rescues Boaters 40 Miles Offshore
5/10/25 – Cape Canaveral, FL
The US Coast Guard said it rescued two boaters on 10 May, after their boat became disabled off Florida's Atlantic Coast.
Coast Guard crews were radioed for help when a sailboat became disabled approximately 40 miles off Florida’s Cape Canaveral on 9 May. The boat was reported overdue around the same time by a loved one, when the boaters failed to check in.
The Coast Guard was able to locate the vessel the following day and get it towed in by a commercial salvage crew. Nobody aboard the boat was injured.
Florida Woman Killed by Alligator During Canoe Trip
5/6/25 – Polk Co., FL
A Florida woman was killed by an alligator during a canoeing trip with her husband, who tried to save her during the surprise attack, officials said.
The husband and wife were canoeing in about 2 1/2 feet of water at the mouth of Tiger Creek near Lake Kissimmee in Polk County on the afternoon of 6 May when the boat drifted over a large alligator, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The gator thrashed and tipped the canoe over, throwing both the husband and wife into the water, fish and wildlife officials said. The victim, 61-year-old Polk County resident Cynthia Diekema, ended up on top of the alligator in the water, the officials said.
She was bitten and her husband tried to save her, officials said. Her body has since been recovered. An investigation was underway, the agency said.
An 11-foot-4-inch alligator matching the description of the gator involved was recovered that night; a second gator, about 10 to 11 feet long, was recovered the following morning, officials said.
Fishermen Rescued from Capsized Boat by Good Samaritan
5/3/25 – Cape Cod, MA
Three fishermen off the coast of Cape Cod would have likely lost their lives on 3 May, if another fisherman hadn’t come along and found them huddled on the hull of their capsized boat.
Local news reported that Philip Tran and his friends happened upon the capsized boat when they spotted a signal light around 10 p.m. and shot dramatic cell phone video as the three stranded fishermen scrambled aboard his boat.
“It was windy, big waves — and if that boat sank, they would’ve died,” Tran said in the video. The men had been on top of the capsized boat for about an hour and in the water for 10 or 15 minutes before Tran arrived.
Fishermen Without PFDs ‘Very Fortunate’: Fire Rescue
“At that point our concern is hypothermia, you know, we’ve had certain situations that are similar with not a positive outcome, and not having personal flotation devices, they were very fortunate that someone was in the area to kind of help them out,” Fire Rescue Lt. Rich Alger told reporters.
One report said only one of the three stranded fishermen was wearing a personal flotation device, while another said none of them had a PFD.
“One person grabbed the rope, I had the light, and the captain, we just got close to them and then we got them on board and saved them,” Tran told local reporters. The fishermen, whose identities were not released, were treated and released.
The capsized boat was towed to shore, but authorities did not release any details about the circumstances that led to the boat sinking.
Man Saved from Flaming Boat Near Vashon Island
5/7/25 – Vashon Island, WA
A man was pulled to safety on the morning of 7 May after his 40-foot boat caught fire in the waters near Vashon Island, Washington, according to local news reports.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety and Security Team from Seattle was the first to respond to the emergency in Colvos Passage. After pulling the man from the flames, fire crews from Tacoma extinguished the blaze engulfing the vessel. Authorities confirmed that no one was hurt.
Emergency crews from the Coast Guard, Tacoma Fire, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One, and West Pierce Fire and Rescue stayed on scene to tow the damaged boat to a local marina.
Two Boats Sink in Marina Fire
5/2/25 – Beaver Lake, AR
A prompt response from the Volunteer Fire Department in Northeast Benton County, Arkansas, (NBSVFD) prevented a boat fire from escalating into a larger incident on Beaver Lake on 2 May.
The fire produced thick black smoke and resulted in two boats sinking at the marina. NBSVFD was able to contain the flames before they spread to additional boats or the dock.
‘It Could’ve Been a Whole Lot Worse’
“It’s mostly a volunteer organization, so if anything happens the members show up,” said Stan Collins, Commodore of the Beaver Lake Sailing Club. “We got 10 people out here right now willing to help with whatever’s needed. If it had caught the dock or any other boats, it could’ve been a whole lot worse.”
Collins said he and others in the boating community were grateful for the firefighters’ quick action and dedication to keeping them safe. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Boaters Rescued from South Carolina River
4/18/25 – Colleton Co., SC
A report of three boaters stranded on South Carolina’s Edisto River on 18 April prompted a response from Colleton County Fire-Rescue, in fast-moving waters at a temperature of around 45 degrees.
The boaters – a father and his two teenage sons -- were in a kayak and a canoe when they encountered a tree across the river. The swift current entangled the two watercraft in the obstacle and all three occupants fell into the cold water.
Firefighter-Paramedics put boats in the river and located the three individuals about an hour later. The occupants were brought back to the landing and were treated for mild hypothermia by Fire-Rescue Paramedics.
Crews were able to "unwedge" the canoe and kayak and retrieve some of the boater's equipment. The occupants were warmed after rescue and chose to refuse ambulance transportation to the hospital.
Two People, Dog Rescued from Sailing Dinghy
5/10/25 – Gaston, OR
Two people and their dog were rescued on the evening of 10 May after their sailboat capsized on Oregon’s Henry Hagg Lake, according to fire officials.
Gaston Rural Fire District and Washington County Sheriff's Office responded to a marine rescue call at 6:58 p.m., when dispatchers reported that a boat had capsized with at least two people in the water. Upon arrival, responders located the sailing dinghy in the middle of the lake.
"The two occupants of the boat and their dog were sitting on the overturned hull waiting for assistance," the fire district reported.
Sheriff's deputies reached the capsized vessel by boat and transported the occupants and their dog back to the boat ramp. The individuals were cold but unharmed. The rescue effort then shifted to recovering the vessel, which proved challenging due to its 25-foot mast.
"Then the real work began. The craft was a sailboat with a 25' mast which made it difficult to tow and right," the fire district stated. "None of the personnel on scene had ever needed to right a sailboat but the owner walked us through the process and then we applied a lot of ropes and energy."
Coast Guard Rescues Man Near Sunshine Skyway Bridge
5/10/25 – Clearwater, FL
A man was rescued on 10 May after his 15-foot boat capsized by Florida’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders were notified around 7:34 a.m. through a 911 transfer, USCG said. Through the 911 transfer, they were notified that the St. Petersburg Fire Rescue and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office marine rescue crews were responding to a boater in distress.
Crews rescued the boater from the water at 7:56 a.m. The man was transported to the Maximo Boat Ramp by the St. Petersburg Fire Rescue boat crew.
Firefighters Rescue 2 People After Canoe Overturned
5/12/25 – Seekonk, MA
Firefighters rescued two canoers at Turner Reservoir in Seekonk, Massachusetts, on the morning of 12 May.
According to the Seekonk Fire Department, crews responded to reports of two people in the water at the reservoir.
Seekonk fire officials said their canoe had overturned.
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