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Editor: Rod Sullivan
Profession: Maritime Attorney

Category: Boating Accidents

If you've ever been on the open ocean, truly been there, you must know what the survivors of the July 4th boat capsizing felt like.

"They were just panicked," said Jerry Andrews, the charter boat captain who rescued the three. "They were out of breath and just about out of energy." "The three looked like they had swallowed gallons of salt water."
"When our boat got close enough, they got an adrenaline rush or something," he said. "They were practically walking on water trying to get in."

Two others died in the accident which they say was caused by the wake of a passing boat. There apparently were only 2 PFD's which floated free as the boat went down, leaving the three men without anything to hold onto. Two of them died.

The lesson? Having the life preservers tucked in the forecastle, or underneath the seats may not be good enough. Nobody wants to wear them, but if they were at least in the open, they would have been available when the boat suddenly capsized.