Accidents of the Week - October 25, 2025
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Firefighters Battle Boat Blaze, No Injuries Reported
9/29/25 – Brownsville, TX
A boat fire at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, mobilized the Brownsville Fire Department on the afternoon of 29 September.
According to a social media post from Brownsville FD, fire crews worked to get the fire under control. No injuries were reported on the scene.
The cause of the fire remained unclear at the time.
Rescuers Use Drones to Find Man Stranded in Marsh
10/5/25 – Atlantic City, NJ
Firefighters and police officers in Atlantic City, New Jersey, used a pair of drones to locate a 53-year-old man stranded on a sandbar in a marsh on 5 October while aboard a personal watercraft.
The man was on a Wave Runner when he called for help around 2 p.m. about an hour after he got stuck, Atlantic City police said. Officials used location technology to find out where he was, but were unable to find him because of the rough and watery terrain.
Drone Operator Locates Stranded Boater in 7 Minutes
Police then deployed the drones — one launched from the police department and one from Atlantic City High School. The drone pilot, Sgt. Chris Miller, located the man seven minutes later, less than a mile-and-a-half from the high school. Miller then called the State Police’s marine unit, who rescued the man by boat at about 2:30 p.m.
“He was really out there in the marsh,” Miller said. “When I first observed him, he was just a speck on the screen. He clearly was in trouble.”
One Rescued After Abandoning Sinking Boat
10/6/25 – Cumberland Co., NJ
One person was rescued from a sinking boat in the Delaware Bay on 6 October after high seas caused the boat to take on water, officials with the Downe Township fire and rescue squad said.
Around 6:30 p.m., emergency responders from Downe Township, New Jersey, were called to False Egg Island after a 20-foot boat reported taking on water and beginning to sink, authorities said.
Before Downe Township’s rescue and dive team arrived, the lone person on the boat abandoned the vessel and tried to swim to shore, according to authorities. Once responders located the person in the water, they deployed two swimmers for the rescue.
Officials said that the person reported feeling cold and had been in the water for about an hour. Once back at the dock, the person was evaluated by emergency medical responders and declined further treatment, authorities said.
Nantucket Local Killed in Paddleboarding Accident
10/1/25 – Nantucket, MA
A local legend adored by his community was found dead on a Nantucket beach after a freak paddleboarding accident.
The body of Somwong Kyomitmaitee, better known as Wong or the 'King of Shing' for his exterior contracting business, was discovered on the shoreline of Polpis Harbor, in Nantucket, Massachusetts on 1 October.
Kob Sathitanon, Kyomitmaitee's wife, reported him missing at 2.58pm after he never returned from checking on a boat moored in the harbor that morning. A search was launched by the Nantucket Harbormaster Sheila Lucey and Coast Guard Station Brant Point, according to the Nantucket Current.
Harbormaster Lucey said that they found Wong's paddleboard first and then his body in the marsh of the shoreline. Kyomitmaitee was unresponsive and was administered first aid until they reached the fire department crews.
“The missing person was unfortunately determined to be deceased and was not transported to Nantucket Cottage Hospital by the Nantucket Fire Department,” said Nantucket Police Department Lieutenant Angus MacVicar. “This case has been received by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and does not appear to be suspicious.”
Disabled Boat in Near Collision with Cruise Ship
8/17/25 – Tampa, FL
It was a tense situation in Tampa Bay, Florida, on 17 August, when the cruise ship Margaritaville Islander had a close encounter with a disabled pontoon boat.
Fortunately, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Marine Enforcement Section was on hand for assistance, rescuing six adults stranded in the channel as the cruise ship approached.
The incident happened just after 4 p.m. as Margaritaville Islander was setting sail on a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing. The 85,600-gross-ton cruise ship had just departed the cruise terminal and was heading south into Tampa Bay when a pontoon boat with six adults aboard became temporarily disabled.
Pontoon Boat Disabled by Line on Propeller
“[Our] Marine Enforcement Section jumped into action when a pontoon boat with six adults on board was stranded in the channel in the path of an outbound cruise ship,” the sheriff’s office said. “The pontoon had a line wrapped around the propeller, keeping it from moving. Our deputies conducted an emergency tow and stayed until their boat was operable. We’re always ready to assist when trouble arises!”
Video of the incident showed the tow being undertaken while the cruise ship drew closer and closer. No one was injured and there was no damage to the cruise ship.
Boat Strikes Ledge, Sinks Off North Haven
8/17/25 – North Haven, ME
A boat with 11 people aboard struck a ledge off North Haven, Maine, on 17 August and sank.
The communications director for the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) reported that the recreational motorboat struck the ledge and sank near Stand-In Point on North Haven at about noon.
There were 11 passengers onboard when the boat sank. All the passengers were able to reach safety by using a paddle board to ferry themselves to shore, less than 100 feet away from where the boat ran aground, according to DMR.
One passenger had a minor injury and was treated at the scene by the North Haven Fire Department. The U.S. Coast Guard also responded.
The boat was a 31-foot Bertram. A crew from Fields Dive Service salvaged the boat the following day.
Coast Guard Rescues Man from Capsized Skiff
8/19/25 – Corpus Christi, TX
The Coast Guard rescued a man in the water from a capsized skiff in Redfish Bay in Corpus Christi, Texas, on the afternoon of 19 August.
Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders received a call from Towboat U.S. at 3:00 p.m. reporting a boater whose vessel was taking on water. Watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin helicopter air crew to conduct the rescue.
The helicopter crew arrived on scene and hoisted the man to safety. He was last reported in stable condition. Texas Parks and Wildlife also provided assistance during the rescue.
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