A terrifying scene unfolded near Gulfport Harbor on Tuesday as a small boat capsized, throwing its occupants into the Mississippi Sound and prompting a frantic rescue effort. Witnesses describe desperate calls for help as the drama unfolded, highlighting the dangers of boating accidents and the crucial role of emergency services. Learn how first responders reacted to this boat capsizing, and what one fisherman did when he witnessed the group struggling in the water.
GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) – Erica Johnson was one of many who saw a small boat overturn on Tuesday, tossing four people into the Mississippi Sound.
“Immediately right then, I just went to hollering, ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,’” she explained. “Everybody was hollering, trying to get in touch with 911, get them on the phone or the rescue team to get here to help them… That’s when I went running over here and seen a couple of jet skis out here riding. I tried to get them to come over.”
According to Gulfport Fire Chief Billy Kelley, the group left the Gulfport Harbor, the driver of the boat sped up, then hit a wave and rolled over.
“Coast Guard was able to pick one patient out of the water that was unconscious, the other three were still clinging to the boat, and our dive team made it out to the boat capsized with flotation devices – we were able to get those to shore,” he said. “Coast Guard team and Pafford Emergency Medical sprung into action and was there very quick,” Kelley said.
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Ron Walker was fishing with family when he saw the group, but there was little they could do with no life preservers. The boat was too far from the pier to swim.
“My cousin said someone was yelling they couldn’t swim,” he said. “[I] had to stop, physically restraining my other cousin from jumping in because they were so far away.”
He was one of many calling emergency services for help.
“I called 911. We’re not from here. The name of the pier is not out here, so I didn’t know what to really tell her. I just had to describe I was on a boat pier,” he said.
Even though Walker didn’t know exactly where he was, Chief Kelley says dispatchers could see the locations of the three people who called 911 for help.
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