Accidents of the Week - November 2, 2024
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.
One Injured in South Florida Boat Fire
10/25/24 – Palm Beach, FL
Authorities responded to a boat fire at a marina in Dania Beach, Florida, late afternoon on 25 October. At least one person was hurt.
Dispatch records showed that fire rescue crews were sent to Nautical Ventures Marina Service Center, just west of I-95 and Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport.
Video of the incident showed the boat on a trailer as firefighters worked to put out the flames. It also showed medics loading a person into an ambulance.
It was not clear whether there had been any further injuries or any deaths.
Three Hurt in Rhode Island Boating Crash
10/21/24 – Charlestown, RI
A boating crash left three people with minor injuries on 21 October. Police said the crash happened just outside Rhode Island’s Charlestown Breachway.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) had been warning boaters to not to go near the breachway after it was damaged by winter storms. Boaters were urged to avoid Charlestown Breachway altogether if possible, with a section of its stone wall missing.
As a result of the missing section, the water had been pulling sand in front of the breachway and into the channel, changing the depth and making the channel narrower.
Emergency repair work was underway, but boaters were urged to continue using caution in the area, according to the DEM.
Child Transported to Hospital After Kayak Accident
10/26/24 – Higganum, CT
A child was transported to the hospital after a kayak accident on the afternoon of 26 October.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said a man and a 5-year-old boy were kayaking on the Connecticut River in the area of Depot Hill Rd. in Higganum, CT.
Police said that at around 3:02 p.m., units responded to a pediatric cardiac arrest post drowning. Both people ended up in the water and the child was transported to the hospital, according to DEEP.
The 5-year-old was in critical condition, and the cause of the incident was under investigation.
Crews Respond to Boat Fire Off New Jersey Coast
10/27/24 – West Tuckerton, NJ
Emergency crews in South Jersey responded to a large boat fire on the morning of 27 October.
The flames broke out just after 9:30 a.m. in West Tuckerton, in New Jersey’s Ocean County. Officials said multiple fire companies in Little Egg Harbor had responded to reports of a boat on fire.
The boat was reportedly at a fueling station when a blaze broke out. According to police, four people were on board at the time. Fire crews were eventually able to get the fire under control and stop it from spreading, authorities said.
No injuries were reported as a result of the blaze, and there was no word on what may have sparked this incident. Anyone with information was asked to contact the police.
Dive Teams Search Lake for Boy, 9, Who Fell off Boat
10/26/24 – Polk Co., FL
A search was underway for a 9-year-old boy from Port St. Lucie, Florida after he fell into a lake in front of his two brothers, according to authorities.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office said the boy fell into Lake Annie, in Central Florida, when he and his brothers were on their father's pontoon boat on the afternoon of 26 October.
Boy Reportedly Hit Prop After Falling Overboard
The sheriff's office said the boy suddenly fell over the front of the boat and hit the boat's propeller. The father immediately jumped into the water to look for his son, while one of the boys called 911 for help. The sheriff's office said boats were quickly dispatched to look for the boy. Multiple agencies were involved in the search and recovery efforts.
“It’s a tragedy, and an unimaginable nightmare for the family of the boy," said Sheriff Grady Judd. "We are using extensive resources to find him. We’re working in a large lake with depths up to about 16-feet, with poor visibility, but we’ve been out there 24-hours a day, and will continue to be there until we find him.”
Investigators said the boy was not wearing a floatation device, but it was not required by law.
Boaters Use Clever Trick to Put Out Dock Fire
10/26/25 – Kingston, OK
A couple of boaters on Lake Texoma, in Oklahoma, put out a dock fire on 26 October with a little help from their boat’s motor.
Scott Thomas was out boating with his friends on Lake Texoma when they noticed smoke coming from a nearby dock near Alberta Creek Marina. As they got closer, they could see flames growing larger.
With quick thinking, they took action and revved their motor to splash water on the dock, putting out the fire and saving the day.
Coast Guard Rescues 85-year-old Boater in Tampa Bay
10/27/24 – Clearwater, FL
An 85-year-old man was rescued one mile south of Tampa Bay’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge on 27 October, according to officials.
A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater aircrew medevaced the man, who radioed for help around 11 a.m. Officials said the 85-year-old reported experiencing heart attack-like symptoms and declared that his boat had engine failure.
Authorities said that the man was taken to Tampa General Hospital for further medical care, and reported that a Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg boat crew had also helped with the rescue.