Sanibel fire assists with rescue after boating collision

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

Island fire crews recently aided in the rescue of seven people following a two-vessel collision.

On March 12 at about 10 p m , the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District received a call about a boating accident between the island and Fort Myers Beach Its Marine Emergency Response Team was dispatched to the area, about a half-mile away from Bunche Beach, between the beach and A Span

“When our crews arrived on scene, they saw that two boats were involved,” Capt John DiMaria said

He reported that there was a 50-foot sailboat anchored outside of the channel, and the second boat involved was an approximate 30-foot fishing boat that had already begun to sink and overturn.

“We learned that there were seven individuals on the fishing vessel,” DiMaria said

The sailboat involved was unoccupied at the time of the crash

He reported that because the fishing boat was sinking, the seven people on it were in the process of trying to escape to the sailboat when they and a crew from U S Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach arrived The Sanibel crew assisted the U S Coast Guard with evacuating the people off of the boats

“The U S Coast Guard took all seven to Moss Marina on Fort Myers Beach for medical evaluation,” DiMaria said, noting that the district did not know the extent of the injuries or treatment required

“There were minor injuries sustained,” he said

The cause of the accident is unknown and under investigation

“We do not know any further information on the cause,” DiMaria said

He added that the sailboat remains where it is

“We don't know who owns it,” DiMaria said, noting that the vessel could be abandoned or derelict “We turned everything over to the Lee County Sheriff's Office.”

With the amount of debris that remains in local waterways in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the district emphasized the importance of boaters remaining vigilant and careful when out on the water

“Everything needs to be handled with caution and safe boating,” he said