FLORIDA BOATING DISASTERS

[spetro]

I will move this to "boat safety forum" when it falls off page 1...FYI

Boating Accident Notifications
3rd Edition

Broward County 3/14/14  A 72 year old male was operating a rented 20 foot vessel in the area of Hillsboro inlet at approximately 1:00 p.m.  At approximately 2:00 p.m., a 911 call was placed by a person who noticed the vessel drifting just outside of the Hillsboro Inlet.  The person swam out to the vessel to prevent it from being damaged on the jetties.  While onboard, the person noticed there was no one onboard or around the vessel.  The ignition was in the on position, engine not running, and the throttle in neutral.  Sheriff deputies arrived on scene and secured the vessel. A search located the operator to the north east of the vessel, on the other side of the channel.  The operator was transported to Broward Medical where he was pronounced deceased.  It is currently unknown why the operator fell overboard.

Marion County 4/2/14  A 50 year old male was fishing from a small vessel on an unnamed lake behind his residence. For unknown reasons, the vessel overturned and was found sunk in the lake. The Lone fisherman was seen struggling in the water by a family member.  The family member went to get a raft to attempt to rescue the fisherman. When he returned he found the fisherman floating face down in the water and unresponsive. The fisherman had a Type IV throw-able floatation device partially wrapped around one arm.  He was brought to shore and CPR was performed but was unsuccessful. Marion County EMS later pronounced the fisherman deceased.

Volusia County 4/12/14  After 3:00 a.m., a 14'  vessel operated by a 57 year old male was traveling north on the ICW. The operator was returning to Kennedy Park Fishing Pier and boat ramp after a night of fishing. At approximately channel marker 56 the operator was ejected from the vessel for an unknown reason. The vessel continued north on the ICW and grounded itself.  The operator was later found deceased in the ICW not wearing his life jacket.

Lee County 4/24/14  Two vessels were travelling along Jugg Creek headed toward each other.  The first vessel, a 20 foot motorboat with 3 occupants and a 70 year old male operator, struck the second vessel on the right side approximately mid ship.  The second vessel was a 23 foot motorboat with one occupant and a 61 year old male operator.  The second vessel operator sustained fatal injuries from the impact of the 20 foot vessel.  Two of the occupants on the first vessel were ejected upon impact and one sustained minor injuries.  All others were uninjured.

Miami-Dade County 5/4/14  A 42 year old male operator of a 41 foot sport boat was attempting to leave the Mashta Flats in Biscayne Bay.  The victim, a 41 year old male that was on the beach entered the water to help push the boat off the beach.  The victim was fatally injured when struck by the right boat propeller while pushing the boat out.

Citrus County 5/7/14  Two pwc, one being operated by a 73 year old male and the other by a 21 year old female, were performing tight turns in close proximity to each other and in opposite directions.  The female operator straightened out after her third revolution and struck the other pwc on the left side.  The 73 year old male was struck by the other pwc as it ramped up and over his pwc.  He was airlifted to Ocala Regional Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries later that night.

Fatality Comparison
Jan 1 – May 9