Accidents of the Week - September 27, 2025
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Coast Guard Rescues 3 from Capsized Vessel
9/13/25 – Sargent, TX
The Coast Guard rescued three people from a capsized vessel near Sargent, Texas, on the afternoon of 13 September.
Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center watchstanders received a report at 11:03 a.m. of a 17-foot pleasure craft that capsized with two adults and one adolescent aboard.
Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast, directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Houston MH-65 helicopter air crew, and a Coast Guard Station Freeport 29-foot Response Boat–Small crew.
Once on scene, the air and boat crews located the people sitting on the capsized vessel. The air crew lowered their rescue swimmer, who then helped assist the boaters from the capsized vessel onto the Coast Guard small boat.
The three were taken to Bridge Bait Marina in Freeport, Texas. No injuries were reported.
3 Rescued from Overturned Kayaks During Giants-Dodgers Game
9/13/25 – San Francisco, CA
Nearby kayakers and a boat emblazoned with the Ghostbusters logo came to the aid of three people whose kayaks overturned while they were watching the Giants-Dodgers game on 13 September.
According to local news reports, the kayakers fell overboard around 8:30 pm and were quickly rescued by nearby kayakers and a private boat prior to the San Francisco Fire Department’s arrival on the scene.
The three were evaluated at the scene by EMS who determined they were in good condition. They all reportedly refused medical care.
After the incident, local first responders reminded folks to wear life jackets on the water.
Stranded Paddleboarder Rescued from Puget Sound
9/6/25 – Seattle, WA
Marine Services, Dive Team, and Patrol units of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO),
Washington, worked together to rescue a lost and stranded paddle boarder in the Puget Sound on 6 September.
The individual was located and brought back to shore safely.
In a post on social media, TCSO reminded boaters to always know the area where they planned to recreate, to carry the proper safety gear, to have reliable communication equipment, and never hesitate to call for help.
The TCSO’s post included thermal imaging of the stranded paddle boarder, who thankfully was reported safe.
Fisherman, 20, Recovering After Propeller Accident
9/7/25 – Bonita Springs, FL
A 20-year-old man was recovering in Fort Myers, Florida, after his mother said a boat propeller injured him during a water rescue at Big Hickory Pass.
Still, his family said he was grateful to be alive thanks to a good Samaritan boater who stopped to help. Victor Lopez was fishing with friends when he dropped his cast net in the water and jumped in to retrieve it. His friend followed to help.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), a current swept them both away.
"His cast net that fell in was about 10 feet into the water, so he decided to try and go retrieve it," said Ashley Lopez, Victor's mother. Lopez said that with few people on the beach no one really could see them, but luckily, a nearby boater stopped to help rescue them from the choppy water.
Good Samaritan Applied Tourniquet to Injured Leg
"And as they were swimming up to the boat, one of his friends that was with him actually got onto the boat, and my son was getting closer to the boat, and I guess the propellers had accidentally got him in his thigh area," Lopez said.
Someone on the boat quickly applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding before taking Victor close to shore where an ambulance was waiting at the Big Hickory Pass. He was rushed to Lee Health Gulf Coast Medical Center.
Bodies of Missing Kentucky Boaters Found
9/11/25 – Pulaski Co., KY
Search crews recovered the bodies of two men who went missing after a fishing trip on the Cumberland River, in Kentucky.
According to Pulaski County Search & Rescue, the body of Rich Webb was found on the night of 11 September, along with the boat he and Arthur Johnson were last seen on. Johnson’s body was found the following morning.
Crews believed the boat struck a rock wall and sank into the river.
Two Adults, Two Minors Injured in Boat Explosion
9/14/25 – Macomb Co., MI
Four people were thrown from a boat and injured when their vessel exploded on the afternoon of 14 September in Macomb County, Michigan.
The distress call was reported about 3:45 p.m., after which the Macomb County Sheriff's Office Marine Division was sent to the scene in Belvedere Bay.
Deputies said the boat was anchored in the bay when the owner, one adult passenger, and two minors were on board. When they tried to get out, the engine compartment flamed up and exploded. All four were thrown out of the vessel.
Victims Taken to Shore by Good Samaritans
Good Samaritans in a nearby boat helped get all four onboard their vessel and took the victims to shore. The Harrison Township Fire Department provided medical treatment on scene and three of the four were taken to an area hospital for additional treatment. They were all reported in stable condition.
In the meantime, the Macomb County marine division deputies extinguished the fire and had the boat towed. A Macomb County Sheriff's Office fire investigator inspected the burned-out vessel, and determined that nothing was suspicious.
Boat Crash with Barge Sends Seven to Hospital
9/14/25 – Fort Myers, FL
Rescue crews from Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach, Florida, saved seven boaters after a vessel crash near Bowditch Beach Park on the night of 14 September.
The Coast Guard launched two boat crews and transferred all seven boaters to awaiting emergency medical service personnel in stable condition at the station. The 36-foot boat collided with a barge around 10 p.m.
“We commend our crews for a swift response with seamless coordination with local EMS ensuring that all boaters involved received timely care,” said Cmdr. Fredrick Pugh, a Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg search and rescue mission coordinator.
“Coast Guard investigative officers and FWC are working to determine the cause of the allision and verify the details leading up to the incident.”
After being rescued from the water, the seven people were taken to the Fort Myers Beach Coast Guard station, where they were treated before being transported to the hospital by Fort Myers Beach Fire Department and Lee County EMS.
Angler Tries to Save Drowning Companion
9/14/25 – Avon Park, FL
A mishap that tossed two anglers off their boat turned fatal when one died while struggling to stay afloat, according to Florida investigators.
It happened Sunday, 14 September, on Florida’s Lake Damon, and the fisherman who died was identified as 29-year-old Chase Winton Parrish, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said in a news release. The identity of his companion was not released.
The two anglers were aboard a 13-foot boat when “events occurred that caused both individuals to fall overboard and end up in the water,” the FWC reported. “Once in the water one of the individuals was struggling and the other individual attempted to assist them,” officials said.
“A short time later, after not being able to help the struggling person in the water, that individual swam back to the vessel and called 911 for help. FWC and (our) partner agencies responded to the scene immediately but sadly (Parrish) was recovered from the water and declared deceased.”
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office reported the cause of death was drowning. Details of what caused the two anglers to go overboard were not released.
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