Accidents of the Week - November 15, 2025
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2 People Safe After Boat Consumed by Fire in Ocean
11/3/25 – Broward Co., FL
Two people were safe after the boat they were on erupted in flames in the ocean off Florida’s Broward County on 3 November, officials said.
The fire broke out on the 35-foot vessel with two people on board in the water near Dania Beach and Hollywood, Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) Fire Rescue officials said. Aerial footage showed crews from BSO Fire Rescue and Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue spraying water onto the boat, which was engulfed in flames. The fire was quickly extinguished but the boat appeared to have been destroyed.
The two passengers were taken aboard a U.S. Coast Guard vessel and there were no injuries, BSO officials said. Beachgoers said the fire was about five miles out in the ocean. They described seeing clouds of black smoke from the shore.
“All I saw was black smoke on the horizon and it lasted about 15 to 20 minutes," Jason Bjornstaet said. The cause of the fire was unknown.
Bodies of Missing Kayakers Recovered
11/1/25 – Southampton, NY
The body of one of two kayakers who went missing on 1 November in New York’s Shinnecock Bay was recovered the following day, according to Southampton police.
A press release from the police department reported that the body of 27-year-old Shane Garcia was found after New York State Police and the Southampton Town Marine Patrol Units located "an area of interest" during their search on 2 November. The statement added that the search for the second missing kayaker, Aaron Montemarano, was set to resume early the following day.
Police divers recovered the body of Montemarano, 25, at around 11:30 a.m. on 3 November.
Kayaker Sent Selfie to Girlfriend Before Disappearing
Garcia was initially reported missing by his girlfriend “who stated he had gone kayaking earlier in the day and had not returned.” Officers found his work van parked at the end of Shinnecock Avenue in Hampton Bays.
According to an earlier release by Southampton police: “Mr. Garcia sent a picture to his girlfriend of himself and his friend Aaron Montemarano while kayaking in Shinnecock Bay near Ponquogue Bridge. A search of Shinnecock Bay and the surrounding area yielded negative results... Mr. Montemarano is believed to have been in the company of Mr. Garcia at the time he went missing.”
A U.S. Coast Guard boat crew actively searched the area on Sunday with partner agencies. “It was reported that local responders located two kayaks and a debris field in the marsh area earlier this morning,” a Coast Guard spokesperson said in a statement.
Boaters Rescued After Capsizing on Pond
11/1/25 – Plymouth, MA
Two boaters were rescued on 1 November after their boat capsized on Plymouth Pond in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
According to the Plymouth Fire Department, crews received a call around 3:30 from a boat occupant who reported to be capsized.
Two males were out duck hunting in the boat when their watercraft overturned, which crews suspect to be due to extremely windy conditions. Luckily there were no injuries in the incident but boaters were encouraged to exercise caution in inclement weather.
"One person in the boat called 911 and then we got our boat out, it was close to being put back [and] winterized but we got it back out and made a quick recovery, recovered both patients," said fire chief Tyler Dean.
Five Rescued from Sinking Boat 260 NM Offshore
11/6/25 – Cape Hatteras, NC
The U.S. Coast Guard said five people were rescued after their sailboat began to sink far off the coast of Cape Hatteras on 6 November.
Coast Guard watchstanders received a distress call that a sailboat named Magic Bus was taking on water about 260 nautical miles offshore, and all five people on board were abandoning ship into a life raft.
Air Station Elizabeth City launched an HC-130 Hercules and an MH-60 Jayhawk in response, and also diverted a Coast Guard cutter. The Hercules aircraft located the life raft, established communications with the people on board, and confirmed they were OK.
Coast Guard Helicopter Needed Refueling on Aircraft Carrier
While en route, the Jayhawk helicopter crew had to coordinate with the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush for fueling support, because of how far the raft was from shore. The Jayhawk was then able to reach and recover all five people from the life raft, who were all in good health.
The helicopter then returned to the Bush for further refueling before returning to Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City.
Junior Hero Helps Rescue Boaters After Surf Capsize
11/2/25 – Oceanside, CA
A 12-year-old junior lifeguard was being hailed a hero for assisting multiple people who were thrown from a boat that capsized while leaving the harbor in Oceanside, California, on 2 November.
The small vessel overturned after being struck by breaking surf near a harbor jetty shortly before 10:30 a.m., according to the Oceanside Fire Department. The incident was witnessed by lifeguard personnel, who reported that there were five victims in the water.
Crews arrived to find the 25-foot powerboat capsized with the five victims distributed among multiple private vessels. A rescue boat, along with the assistance of several private vessels in the immediate vicinity, brought all five victims to the dock, where a fire engine and ambulance were standing by. Following a medical evaluation, three patients were transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
12-Year-Old Played ‘Impressive Role’ in Rescue: Officials
“One of the assisting boats carried a 12-year-old Oceanside Junior Lifeguard, a four-year participant in the city’s summer program, who played an impressive role in coordinating the private rescue response” officials said on the evening of 3 November.
“He witnessed the vessel capsize and quickly waved down a nearby jet ski.” He then directed the operator of the jet ski to assist in bringing three victims onto his family’s fishing boat. While going back to the lifeguard dock, the boy provided first aid to a patient with a leg injury, applying gauze and tape to control the bleeding. When another patient began shivering, he selflessly offered his own clothing to keep her warm.
“This incident showcases exactly what the Junior Lifeguard Program is all about,” said Lifeguard Sergeant Lola Swank. “Our youth learn not only lifesaving skills but also how to stay calm, think critically, and help others in moments of crisis. We couldn’t be more proud to see one of our Junior Lifeguards put those lessons into action in a real-life rescue.”
The vessel was removed from the water following the rescue. The Oceanside Fire Department reminded all boaters to always check ocean conditions, wear life jackets, and exercise caution when operating on the ocean.
Coast Guard Rescues Sailor After Boat Capsizes
10/31/25 – San Diego, CA
Coast Guard officials said a 67-year-old man was rescued on the morning of 31 October after his 14-foot boat capsized near Shelter Island in San Diego Bay, California.
They said crews on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Haddock spotted the capsized boat with one person on board around 10:30 a.m. and remained on scene until Station San Diego crews arrived about five minutes later. Coast Guard Officials said the sailor told Coast Guard crew members he wanted to attempt to right his boat, and crew members provided him with a life jacket since he was not wearing one when the boat capsized.
Boater Showed Signs of Exhaustion, Shock, Hypothermia
According to the Coast Guard, the man wasn't able to right his boat, and he began to show signs of exhaustion, shock, and hypothermia after he was exposed to the water. Coast Guard crews brought him aboard their boat and contacted emergency medical services. Coast guard officials said EMS personnel assisted the sailor at the Shelter Island Boat Launch.
San Diego Harbor Police were notified and were set to tow the capsized boat.
3 Boats ‘Completely Destroyed’ In Fire at Dock
11/5/25 – Bloomington, IN
Firefighters responded to a series of fires that left three boats “completely destroyed” at a boat dock in Bloomington, Indiana, on the morning of 5 November.
Firefighters with the Monroe Fire Protection District (MFPD) were called shortly before 8 a.m. to the Fourwinds boat docks on Lake Monroe in response to reports that a boat was on fire. MFPD said crews arrived on the scene and were met with multiple fires at the docks.
The flames left three boats destroyed, while another one experienced “moderate” fire damage. The firefighters managed to prevent the flames from extending beyond the area of the dock.
The cause of the fire was determined to be a mechanical malfunction. No injuries were reported.
Boater Rescued from Sailboat Sinking in Storm
11/5/25 – Alameda, TX
After its anchor line broke in a storm, a sailboat drifted and collided with the rock wall
A woman aboard a sinking sailboat anchored in a marina in Alameda, Texas, was rescued on the morning of 5 November after the vessel broke free and capsized during a fierce storm, authorities said.
The Alameda Fire Department said crews responded to a report of a vessel taking on water near the Encinal Boat Ramp just east of the USS Hornet museum at about 7 a.m. The boat was anchored near the rock wall, nearly capsizing, and the anchor line broke, the Fire Department said.
At the time, the weather in Alameda and other areas near the bay and coast was windy, with gusts of up to 40 mph and periods of rain during an atmospheric river storm. The Bay Area was also under a wind advisory and coastal flood advisory at the time, according to the National Weather Service.
The vessel drifted freely with the swell, colliding with the rock wall and the boat ramp dock, the department said. Firefighters managed to rescue the woman aboard and secure the partially-submerged vessel to the boat ramp.
Boater Hospitalized with Non-Life-Threatening Injuries
A fisherman arrived at the dock just as the rescue was happening. "They just pulled a lady out and put her in the ambulance, but I'm pretty sure that was sinking by the time," said the fisherman named Ahil, as he gestured toward the submerged vessel. "I was coming in when they, when police and everyone was coming, and I was just getting prepared to go fish."
Medics took the unidentified boater to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. The U.S. Coast Guard and Oakland Fire Department were notified and participated in the rescue, Alameda Fire said.
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