55 dead 3 missing rough three months!

[spetro]

Now that the weather has warmed up across the country, boating activity is on the rise.  Please read what has transpired in Florida since March.  I will move this to the "boat safety forum ' in a few days...FYI
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Martin County 3/18/2013   A  67 year old man rented a paddle board from Treasure Coast Paddle at 1030 Hrs. The duration of the rental was for one hour, and prior to the rental he was given a tutorial on proper technique and safety. According to the rental company they saw him start to drift far downwind. The rental company tried to catch up to him but was unable to reach him by water. The rental company searched for him by land and water for two hours before calling 911 to report him missing. A good Samaritan who was on the water in a pontoon boat, found the paddle board floating with no one around it. He called the Sheriff's office and they retrieved the board from him. The Sheriff's office started a search for the missing paddleboarder in the area where the board was found. They located him floating in the water a short time after this.  He was not wearing a lifejacket.  A witness claimed that he was on heart medication and believed he started having difficulty due to health concerns.

Santa Rosa 3/30/2013   Santa Rosa Sound, a 39 foot performance boat was traveling at a high rate of speed with 5 people onboard.  The vessel began to skip across the tops of other vessel wakes and waves then suddenly broke apart.  Four of the occupants were recovered by vessels near the accident scene.  All four occupants received multiple injuries from the event.   The operator was found deceased among the wreckage of the vessel.

Washington County 4/6/2013  Two people left the Caryville boat ramp on the Choctawhatchee river around sundown on 4/5/13.  The motor quit so they decided to float down river to do their fishing.  Later, the occupant advised that the operator of the boat stood up to try and pull the cord to start the motor.  The boat capsized and both were ejected into the water.  The occupant was able to hold onto the boat and swim towards shore.  He was unable to find his friend.  The occupant made his way to the boat ramp and notified authorities at approximately 1:45 a.m.  The deceased operator was located a few days later.

Miami-Dade  4/6/2013  Four people went out fishing in the Atlantic Ocean off Miami Beach.  The rough seas eventually swamped the boat and it capsized.  Three of the occupants were able to swim to shore, the victim was later recovered in the water offshore.

Duval County  4/16/13   Two fishermen anchor approximately 300 yards offshore of Talbot Island.  The weather that morning was calm however it increased in intensity as time progressed.   Around 1 p.m. the surf had gotten rough and a wave swamped the vessel and another then capsized it.  The occupants were ejected into the water.  One occupant was able to find a lifejacket and placed it under his body to swim to shore.  He was unable to find his friend, once on shore the occupant had a fisherman on the beach call for help.
The other occupant was later found floating nearby in the surf.  Medical examiner reported cause of death as drowning


2013 fatalities through 5/10/13 :    10, 1 missing               2012 Fatalities :    55 (includes 3 missing)

Fatality data may change as reports are completed/submitted, or unknown events are reported.

[Mike Bush]

55 fatalities is from 2012 stats.

2013 is 10 and 1 missing.

[Mike Cork]

Folks as we read these things there is nearly always a "here's your sign" moment. Water can kill you, don't get complacent, respect it. All is well and good, until your completely exhausted and safety is no where in site.

Wear your life jackets, respect the water, watch the weather and alway keep an eye out for the other guy because he's probably not watching for you.

[Oldfart9999]

Folks as we read these things there is nearly always a "here's your sign" moment. Water can kill you, don't get complacent, respect it. All is well and good, until your completely exhausted and safety is no where in site.

Wear your life jackets, respect the water, watch the weather and alway keep an eye out for the other guy because he's probably not watching for you.

Xs2 big time, I would also go so far as to say LEAVE THE ALCOHOL HOME!!!!! Have a cold one when you get back to the ramp, or stop, have a bite to eat and a drink. We lose people every year that are drinking and run into piers or other boats.
Rodney

[HunterFB]

Amen to that.  There are too many ways to enjoy the water without the dangers we place on ourselves by "doing stupid".  Don't do stupid.  Come back safe and watch out for eachother out there.

[Bobby Saffel]

LEAVE THE ALCOHOL HOME!!!!!

Amen

[BuckNutz]

May 27 will make 4 years sense I was in a life altering boating accident on Cane River. The guy who ran me over was drunk and hit me in a no wake zone. Remember fellas, when drinking and boating, the life you change may not be yours.

[CraigP83]

Very good point. I love my  as much or more than the next guy. But I save them until Im safe in my own home.

[spetro]

55 fatalities is from 2012 stats.

2013 is 10 and 1 missing.

So what.... 2013 is 10 and one! 55 fatalities in 2012 impacted hundreds if not thosands of friends and love ones. Its only May. 


Thanks for reading this post (the bottom of the article outlines the stats) and contributing