Accidents of the Week - October 18, 2025
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Man, 88, Dies After Boat Capsizes in Rough Waves
10/7/25 – Emerald Isle, NC
An 88-year-old man, Arthur Furtney, drowned after his 23-foot Key West boat capsized in North Carolina’s Bogue Inlet just before noon on 5 October.
A distress call was sent to the U.S. Coast Guard at 11:52 a.m. by Amit Patel, captain of Shanti Nautical Excursions. The call concerned a vessel that had overturned in Bogue Inlet, launching the two passengers aboard into the water.
Officials said the body of Arthur Furtney, 88, the vessel's owner, was recovered by Patel after it floated to the surface. The Coast Guard intercepted Patel's vessel, quickly administered CPR, and transferred Furtney to the Emerald Isle Coast Guard Station. The Emerald Isle Fire Department pronounced Furtney dead at 12:22 p.m.
The other passenger, Paul Brad Brown, survived the initial accident. Brown managed to swim to buoy No. 1, holding onto its side to stay above the rough water in Bogue Inlet. In reports to Wildlife Officers, hazardous water conditions caused the vessel to flip while passing through the inlet.
Good Samaritan Cites Oath ‘To Never Leave Anyone Behind’
For Patel, rendering aid to the pair was a top priority. “I took an oath as a captain to never leave anyone behind. If I can give a helping hand, then I’m going to,” Patel said.
Prior to the accident, Patel was on a small fishing trip near the Keypost. He recalled seeing Furtney and Brown heading toward Bogue Inlet. “I was getting ready to head back to work. I noticed the both of them heading back toward the inlet,” he said.
After leaving the fishing spot and heading back to work, Patel spotted Brown clinging to buoy No. 1. “Once I started heading back, I was maybe three-quarters of a mile away from the buoy at the Inlet. I noticed Brown, and I wanted to make sure I got to him quick,” Patel said.
Conditions were rough. Sets of heavy waves slammed the outer bar of Bogue Inlet, making a maritime rescue difficult and dangerous. “Me and my buddy Adam Clark had to time the rough sets so we could throw a rescue line out. It was tough because we could’ve also been swept up and added to the dangerous situation. Finally, Adam managed to get a line out,” Patel said.
After rescuing Brown and recovering Furtney, Patel was determined to reach the Coast Guard to help save Furtney. “I was moving fast. The only thing I was thinking about was getting Furtney to them. We flew across the water,” Patel explained.
Patel was thankful he was around to render assistance. “God had his hand on us the entire time,” Patel said. “If I had stayed and continued fishing for another five minutes or not gone out at all, then the story would have been different.”
Coast Guard Rescues Overdue Kayakers Off Key Largo
9/29/25 – Miami, FL
A Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 helicopter crew and a Station Islamorada boat crew rescued two kayakers on 29 September, after their kayak overturned in the vicinity of Key Largo, Florida. No injuries were reported.
At approximately 7:45 p.m., the aircrew located one individual in the water clinging to an aid to navigation. Islamorada’s boat crew arrived on scene and brought the person aboard in stable condition. At approximately 8 p.m., the aircrew located the second missing individual stranded on the flats of Baker Cut. The aircrew lowered their rescue swimmer, who was able to safely transfer the man aboard Islamorada’s boat in stable condition.
Coast Guard Highlights ‘Training’, ‘Teamwork’ to Save Lives
Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders had issued an urgent marine information broadcast after receiving an initial report of two overdue kayakers at approximately 6 p.m.
“We are incredibly grateful we were able to quickly locate these individuals despite the nightfall and bring them back to their families,” said Cmdr. Jared Harlow, a search and rescue mission coordinator, Coast Guard Sector Key West.
“This incident highlights the importance of our training and teamwork in order for us to help save lives in difficult conditions.”
Firefighters Urge Use of PFDs After Kayaker Rescued
8/16/25 – Picnic Point, WA
Firefighters responded to a call where a man fell from a kayak into the water near Washington State’s Picnic Point.
According to first responders, the man fell into the water on the afternoon of 16 August but was helped by other kayakers who saw him. The kayakers were able to help get the man to shore.
South County Fire urged people to wear their life jackets every time while doing activities like kayaking, as waters could be cold and unpredictable, with cold water shock increasing the risk of drowning.
South County Fire said that the man was uninjured.
Boater Charged with OUI After Grounding
10/4/25 – Nantucket, MA
Two people walked away without injury after their boat grounded on the night of 3 October on Nantucket’s Great Point peninsula. The vessel's owner was subsequently charged with boating under the influence of alcohol.
The 30-foot Jupiter center console powerboat ran aground along the eastern shoreline of Great Point around 8 p.m., and was reported to police by nearby anglers, according to Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge Manager Diane Lang. The two passengers were uninjured, according to Coast Guard Station Brant Point chief John Lowell.
The owner of the boat, Harold Beacham, was arrested and charged with boating under the influence of alcohol, according to the Nantucket Police Department's daily log. According to a police report obtained through the Nantucket District Court, officers were dispatched to the area around 8:32 p.m., after a 911 call from a person who stated that a boat had just run aground at Great Point with two people on board.
"The reporting party stated that the male party was drunk and was yelling at the female party," the report declared. "I, Sergeant Mauldin, and Officer Santoro responded to Great Point, where we met with the operator of the vessel, Harold Beacham, who had a strong odor of alcohol emanating from his facial area.”
Boat Operator Arrested After Failing Field Sobriety Tests
“This was at least an hour after the initial call was received by the police department,” the report continued. “His eyes were bloodshot and glassy. He also admitted to operating the boat and consuming alcohol. Beacham's story kept changing from him consuming three beers to sharing a bottle of wine with his wife... Beacham stated that he ran into the beach after being confused in his direction of travel. He also stated he frequently fishes in that area, and is familiar with navigating those waters."
Sgt. Mauldin wrote in her report that Beacham had failed all three field sobriety tests administered, after which he was placed under arrest.
12 Kayakers, 6 Children, Rescued Off PNW Islands
8/14/25 – San Juan Islands, WA
The U.S. Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Washington State Park employees pulled off a maritime rescue on 14 August after 12 kayakers found themselves in treacherous waters in Washington’s San Juan Islands.
A group of six children and six adults were kayaking across a channel between Sucia and Patos islands around 1:50 p.m. when they called for help over their marine radio, the Coast Guard said in a statement.
In response, the coastguard said they sent a 29-foot rescue boat from their station in Bellingham. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also sent a rescue ship, and a Washington State Parks vessel that was patrolling the area joined in the rescue effort, officials said.
The rescuers brought all the kayakers to shore at Orcas Island without injuries, officials said.
Crews Search for Missing Kayaker in Vermont Lake
9/19/25 – Newport City, VT
Emergency crews responded to the South Bay Fishing Access on Lake Memphremagog in Newport, Vermont, for reports of a missing fisherman on the night of 19 September.
Newport police said Charles Arnold, 70, had been fishing on the lake and his family had become worried after not hearing from him since 12:30 p.m.
Crews were immediately dispatched to the lake around 9 p.m. and searched until midnight, when they decided to wait for daylight to keep searching.
Seven different agencies assisted in the search, deploying resources that included watercraft, a drone unit, and a dive team. Officials said Arnold’s kayak with his life jacket inside was located near the South Yard area off Glen Road, but he was not found.
Two Critically Injured After Boat Crashes into Breakwall
8/17/25 – Cleveland, OH
Two people were hospitalized with critical injuries after a boat crashed into a breakwall on the morning of 17 August.
According to a post from the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes, reports came in about 7:23 a.m. about a vessel that had collided with the Cleveland Harbor’s west side break wall.
Crews arrived on scene and found a wrecked boat on the breakwall and two people who were determined to be in critical condition. The two victims were taken to Edgewater Marina where EMS was waiting.
It was not reported at the time what had caused the crash.
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