A pair of boaters were rescued Monday after a catamaran lost control in Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway and crashed into a piling near the Manatee Avenue Bridge, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
The impact snapped the 30-foot vessel’s mast, leaving the two stranded until rescue crews arrived. One of the boaters suffered a minor head injury, officials said.
Authorities said strong winds may have contributed to the crash, although it is still under investigation.
“Summer thunderstorms can develop quickly, turning a day on the water into a dangerous situation in minutes,” the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Facebook regarding the incident.
Marine deputies along with lifeguards and fire personnel all responded to the scene and brought them back to shore, with one suffering a minor head injury, officials said.
Body camera footage from the rescue shows the catamaran’s mast completely on its side, draping into the water as emergency crews wade through to reach the catamaran.
The crew then guides the stranded occupants through the water and onto the rescue boat.
“These gentlemen are going to check you out real quick,” a crew member can be heard saying as they make it back to the dock.
Following the incident, the sheriff’s office urged all boaters to check the forecast before heading out, specifically highlighting the need to check it “for your entire trip — not just when you launch.”
