Bobcat
Founding Member
By Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel
10:24 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2014
DELRAY BEACH —
Three boaters in distress were rescued Sunday afternoon by two lifeguards and a good Samaritan after their vessel capsized more than a mile offshore, officials say.
One lifeguard had to dive under the sinking boat to rescue a man who was trapped underneath, said Capt. Kevin Saxton, spokesman for the Delray Beach Fire-Rescue Department.
Rescue crews took that man to the hospital, where officials say he is in critical condition. Firefighters treated the other two men once they reached shore.
Officials did not identify the men or give their ages, citing privacy laws.
A boater who happened to be in the area stopped to help, arriving just as the boat capsized.
"We were heading down to Boca and we see these guys in trouble," said Brian Sackman, a Montreal resident who is vacationing with his girlfriend. "We saw the boat sinking, so we ran over to help. We saw two guys in the water, one with a life vest and one without."
Within seconds, two lifeguards pulled up. One dove into the water and swam under the boat, re-emerging with a third man who was unconscious, Sackman said.
Sackman said he helped the lifeguard hoist the unconscious man onto his boat and also helped the other two men board. As he raced toward shore, the lifeguard remained on board to perform CPR, Sackman said.
Once they got close, a second lifeguard took the unconscious man to the beach on a jet ski, then came back for the other two men, Sackman said.
"He was limp when we pulled him out of the water," Sackman said of the one man. "I'm hoping the guy makes it. I'm still shaking. We're a little freaked out."
The other two men sat grim-faced on the ride in, Sackman said.
"They were in total shock," said Sackman, who gave them water after they came aboard. "They didn't talk at all."
Delray Beach firefighters and lifeguards received a distress call from the sinking vessel at 3:56 p.m., Saxton said. The boat was more than one mile offshore between Casuarina Road and Atlantic Avenue.
Because seas were calm, the lifeguards were able to make it to the boat on their jet skis within two minutes, Saxton said.
He did not have details on the boat's name, make or model.
"The call came in from a cell phone on the boat to our dispatch center," Saxton said. "One person was trapped under the boat and the lifeguard had to dive under and rescue him."
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will investigate what caused the boat to capsize, according to Teri Barbera, spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
sbryan@tribune.com or 954-356-4554
Copyright © 2014, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
10:24 p.m. EDT, July 27, 2014
DELRAY BEACH —
Three boaters in distress were rescued Sunday afternoon by two lifeguards and a good Samaritan after their vessel capsized more than a mile offshore, officials say.
One lifeguard had to dive under the sinking boat to rescue a man who was trapped underneath, said Capt. Kevin Saxton, spokesman for the Delray Beach Fire-Rescue Department.
Rescue crews took that man to the hospital, where officials say he is in critical condition. Firefighters treated the other two men once they reached shore.
Officials did not identify the men or give their ages, citing privacy laws.
A boater who happened to be in the area stopped to help, arriving just as the boat capsized.
"We were heading down to Boca and we see these guys in trouble," said Brian Sackman, a Montreal resident who is vacationing with his girlfriend. "We saw the boat sinking, so we ran over to help. We saw two guys in the water, one with a life vest and one without."
Within seconds, two lifeguards pulled up. One dove into the water and swam under the boat, re-emerging with a third man who was unconscious, Sackman said.
Sackman said he helped the lifeguard hoist the unconscious man onto his boat and also helped the other two men board. As he raced toward shore, the lifeguard remained on board to perform CPR, Sackman said.
Once they got close, a second lifeguard took the unconscious man to the beach on a jet ski, then came back for the other two men, Sackman said.
"He was limp when we pulled him out of the water," Sackman said of the one man. "I'm hoping the guy makes it. I'm still shaking. We're a little freaked out."
The other two men sat grim-faced on the ride in, Sackman said.
"They were in total shock," said Sackman, who gave them water after they came aboard. "They didn't talk at all."
Delray Beach firefighters and lifeguards received a distress call from the sinking vessel at 3:56 p.m., Saxton said. The boat was more than one mile offshore between Casuarina Road and Atlantic Avenue.
Because seas were calm, the lifeguards were able to make it to the boat on their jet skis within two minutes, Saxton said.
He did not have details on the boat's name, make or model.
"The call came in from a cell phone on the boat to our dispatch center," Saxton said. "One person was trapped under the boat and the lifeguard had to dive under and rescue him."
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will investigate what caused the boat to capsize, according to Teri Barbera, spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
sbryan@tribune.com or 954-356-4554
Copyright © 2014, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
