Accidents of the Week - September 2, 2023
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Maine Lobstermen Save Boaters Following Yacht Fire
8/19/23 – Georgetown, ME
The 48-foot yacht Titan caught fire several miles off Georgetown’s Seguin Island, with flames quickly spreading, prompting the boaters to jump into the water for safety.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard Lt. David J. Letarte, the agency issued an Urgent Mariner Information Broadcast after the boaters called for help reporting their vessel was disabled, and fire was coming from the engine room.
Letarte was able to identify one of the lobster boats involved in pulling the boaters to safety as "My Three Blondes" but added there were also other vessels involved in the effort.
"We credit them in this case as saving some lives," Letarte said. The boaters were taken to shore and were reportedly unharmed.
Kayakers Rescued from Tennessee River
8/19/23 – Nashville, TN
The rescue squad in Smith County, Tennessee, rescued several people in two separate incidents on the Caney Fork River on 19 August. Both of the incidents occurred near Betty’s Island just down river from the Center Hill Lake, while the dam’s generators were in operation, the Smith County Rescue Squad said.
At 2:05 p.m., the rescue squad responded to Betty’s Island and found three kayaks in turbulent water around the interstate pillars. The boaters had the kayaks attached with a rope when the current pulled them to the opposite side, causing them to overturn. The rescue squad spotted the kayakers on the island below the bridge.
Kayaker without PFD required medical attention
The Smith County Rescue Squad was able to retrieve the kayaks and return them to the owner. One of the kayakers appeared to be in distress and received medical attention from EMS after returning to the boat ramp. Rescue workers then returned to the island to safely evacuate the other two family members. They were also able to rescue the family’s dog.
Rescue workers said two of the kayakers and the dog were wearing a life jacket. The person who was evaluated by medical personnel was not wearing a life jacket. “This could have had a tragic ending as the one without the PFD said he almost did not make it to safety,” the rescue squad said on social media. “Please keep those life jackets on.”
In the second incident, rescue squad workers returned to Betty’s Island at 7:19 p.m. after a call of overturned kayakers. Rescue crews were able to get the person safely back to the ramp. One female was out of the water at the ramp when crews arrived.
The individuals had life jackets with them, but they were not on. The Smith County Rescue Squad said they were close to the ramp when their kayaks capsized.
Coast Guard Rescues Boaters from Overturned Vessel in Southeast Texas
8/17/23 – Matagorda Co., TX
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, five people were rescued from the waters of Matagorda, Texas, on the night of 17 August, after being aboard an overturned vessel.
The Matagorda County Sheriff's Office said that the vessel started taking on water at about 8:53 p.m., when watchstanders with the Houston-Galveston sector sent a crew that was already near Corpus Christi to the area, and deployed a helicopter from the Coast Guard's Houston station to help.
When the helicopter crew arrived, they lowered a rescue swimmer who guided the five boaters into the water and hauled them to safety one by one. Authorities said no one was injured, and the helicopter crew safely took the boaters to Station Freeport.
Man Burned in Boat Explosion Airlifted to Hospital
8/20/23 – Whitehall, MI
A man was hospitalized on the afternoon of 20 August, following a boat explosion in Muskegon County, Michigan.
Officials with the White Lake Fire Authority say they were dispatched to Crosswinds Marine Service at 2:58 p.m. on a report of a boat explosion. When they arrived, there was a small fire on the boat as a result of the explosion.
Investigators said one adult male was in the boat at the time of the blast, and was helped out by a good Samaritan. The victim was transported to Trinity Hospital in Muskegon and then airlifted to Grand Rapids with 2nd and 3rd degree burns.
The case was under investigation, but officials believed the explosion may have been caused by a propane leak. The boat was considered a total loss.
Three People, Including Child, Injured After PWCs Collide
8/20/23 – Austin, TX
At least three people, including one child, were injured after a pair of Jet Skis collided with each other on Austin’s Decker Lake on the afternoon of 20 August.
According to officials with Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS), five people - four adults and one child - were involved in the accident. There were no fatalities, but one person did require the assistance of a rescue swimmer.
Two people were transported to Dell Seton Medical Center, while the child was transported to Dell Children's Medical Center. All three were dealing with potentially serious injuries.
1 Seriously Injured After Jumping From Boat into Texas Lake
8/19/23 – Gun Barrel City, TX
A person was seriously injured on 19 August after jumping out of a boat into Cedar Creek Reservoir, In Henderson County, Texas, while water levels were low from drought.
According to the Gun Barrel City Fire Department, dispatch received a call at about 6 p.m. from boaters on Cedar Creek Reservoir claiming a person was in the water and had been injured from jumping out of a boat. Officers said the incident took place near Bird Island on the north end of the lake, across from a bridge that runs between Gun Barrel City and Seven Points.
Due to low water levels, the rescue boat had to stop about 100 feet from the patient, and Gun Barrel City Assistant Fire Chief Jason Raney and Senior Training Officer and Paramedic for UT Health Richard McFaddin waded over to the patient on foot.
With the help of other boaters on scene, the officers were able to use a stokes basket equipped with a special flotation collar to keep the patient above water while wading back to the rescue boat. The person was safely moved from the rescue boat to an EMS stretcher, then taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said.
Tournament Angler Loses Motor in Scary Accident
8/19/23 – Praire du Chien, WI
Collin Tweten of Iowa posted a video and photos on his Facebook page on 19 August, explaining how he had lost his motor when he hit a log that was floating just under the surface while running to his next fishing spot during the BFL (Bass Fishing League) competition at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, that morning.
He was travelling at a good speed when he hit a log that was obstructed by the ripples of the surface water, and the boat did a half spin before coming to rest backwards.
Thankfully Tweten and his co-angler came away uninjured, but his entire outboard motor was lost to the obstruction. Tweten’s co-angler was able to take their fish to the weigh-in and kept Tweten in contention for the BFL Regional Championship.
Crews Respond to Overturned Catamaran; No Injuries Reported
8/22/23 – Miami, FL
Responding to reports of an overturned vessel with several people on board, City of Miami Police and fire rescue units arrived at the scene to find an overturned catamaran, located at 3663 S. Miami Ave., on the afternoon of 22 August.
Three people were on board the catamaran when they were thrown into the water. One woman was taken on board a City of Miami Fire boat to be checked out, but no injuries were reported.
Two men who were thrown into the water were eventually able to get the catamaran upright.
Coast Guard Medevacs Woman with Back Injury Caused by Wave
8/22/23 – Clearwater, FL
A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater aircrew medevaced a woman on 22 August, after she suffered a back injury while on a 34-foot boat, 73 miles west of Hernando Beach, Florida.
Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders were notified that a 42-year-old woman had suffered a back injury after the vessel took a wave and she fell to the deck. The responding aircrew aboard an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter arrived on scene, hoisted the woman and transported her to Tampa General Hospital to receive a higher level of care.
The woman’s condition was unknown.