Offshoreonly.com - Cigarette Accident in SWFL

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Cigarette Accident in SWFL

I posted this over in Fort Myers Offshore about 30 mins ago but thought it might be better here since it involved people from IN.

The story was just updated from the original one and there is now a video clip of the newscast.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readar...leid=17649&z=3

Quote:

Five injured in boating accident

Last updated on: 2/19/2008 11:26:12 PM by Patrick Flanary

LEE COUNTY: After a boating accident, five men on a business trip from Fort Wayne, Indiana were ejected and all of them had to paddle to shore on a boat's engine hood from the Monroe Channel.

The boaters ran into a pole out on the water. Emergency workers say they probably hit the pole because it was not lit.

Officials on the scene say the men actually had to paddle for over two hours, while sitting on top of the engine hatch, just to get back to shore.

One of the five men was life-flighted to Lee Memorial Hospital. The other four had non life-threatening injuries and they were taken to Cape Coral Hospital.

The original call came into Coast Guard dispatch at 9:05 p.m. and the accident was reported to be around the area of 2096 Macadamia Lane in St. James City.

The Coast Guard was originally called out to rescue the boaters. But the search and rescue mission was called off once it was known they made it to shore.

But for right now, they are still investigating what happened with the help of the Lee County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit, Fort Myers Beach and Pine Island Fire departments, and Florida Fish and Wildlife.

It is unknown whether the passengers were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident.

The boat they were in was described as a 2007, 39-foot Top Gun Cigarette Boat.

I hope the best for all of them.

Wow, unbelievable that they made it to shore. Hope all are okay. Unlighted pole in the ICW ? That's fugged up.

Most of the markers in this area are day beacons. A lot of the ICW in this part is surrounded on both sides by shallow water. Pretty common here - wide areas of water but only a bit of it is deep.

I took this shot last month from Sanibel....39TG.

The only other 39TG I know of over there is KTRON's boat on Marco Island.

Hope all are ok.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cash Bar (Post 2452019)

Wow, unbelievable that they made it to shore. Hope all are okay. Unlighted pole in the ICW ? That's fugged up.

There are some unlight poles in that area. Could be a powerline running out to the Island??

I hope they are not seriously hurt and make a full recovery soon.

Bob

reason number 23498 that i haaaaate drivin at nite... hopes for a speedy recovery and an easy arrangement with insurance. This could happen to anyone ridin at nite..

that sucks......its a good thing they had the metal engine cover to float on, " you know its like a door on your car"

Yep, it is dark around here at night (unless it is around a full moon). It took me a long time to get comfortable with night boating and I still force myself to keep the speeds down in the channels and bays because I'm always afraid of missing a marker or coming up on an unlit skiff anchored in the channel/bay.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomtbone1993 (Post 2452043)

that sucks......its a good thing they had the metal engine cover to float on, " you know its like a door on your car"

That guy is always saying something stupid - makes the news entertaining sometimes especially when he fumbles his words.

The video shows a hatch the looks eerily similar to the green/black one.