Two people needed rescuing from the waters near Tampa Bay, along with their dog, after their small boat sank after colliding with the wake of an unnamed cruise ship.
The two adults were left stranded after their boat hit the wake of the cruise ship and capsized. Along with their dog, they were able to swim to a buoy where they awaited rescue.
The exact cruise ship responsible for the wake remains unclear, but both Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas were docked at Florida’s Port Tampa Bay that day.
It’s also not clear who was at fault for the incident, with the focus being on the passenger rescue.
The victims, left clinging to a buoy after their vessel sank, were spotted by passengers onboard one of the ships, who alerted the crew.
Tampa Bay Harbor pilots Michael Stutevoss and Dan Hammer, guiding one of the cruise ships out of the port at sunset, quickly acted upon the sighting.
You can see a video of the rescue here:
🚤𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞🚤
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) January 6, 2025
On January 4, 2025, at 6:11 p.m., our Aviation and Marine sections, along with HCSO Fire Rescue and the Coast Guard, located two injured individuals and their dog, who were in a boating accident. Their boat hit a wake from a cruise ship near… pic.twitter.com/x0ufMVDzdK
The cruise line deployed its “man overboard” team, and the pilots contacted the US Coast Guard St. Petersburg Sector and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to expedite the rescue.
At approximately 6 pm, first responders successfully located the two passengers and their dog clinging to the buoy, about 200 yards from the debris of their boat.
Both individuals suffered unspecified injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
A challenging operation
The rescue was fraught with complications, from poor visibility during twilight hours to the risk of hypothermia in Tampa Bay’s 64°F waters. Harbor pilot Michael Stutevoss highlighted the dangers:
“Hypothermia can set in very quickly. Even though we are in Florida, hypothermia can set in.”
Michael Stutevoss, Tampa Bay Harbor Pilot
Matthew Riley, piloting a nearby cargo ship and aiding the search, emphasized the difficulty of spotting the stranded trio. He said it was like looking for “shadows in the water” and said he was worried about potentially running over the victims while trying to find them.
This incident underscores the risks that large cruise ships pose to smaller vessels.
Cruise ship wakes, powerful and often deceptively far-reaching, can violently destabilize nearby boats, leading to capsizing and injuries.
In this case, the timely actions of harbour pilots, first responders, and alert passengers turned what could have been a tragic situation into a successful rescue, emphasising the importance of vigilance and coordination in protecting lives on the water.
Hopefully the victims recover from their injuries quickly!
TODAY’S BEST CRUISE DEALS!
Don’t miss these offers…
Related posts
- What Happens If A Cruise Ship Is Hit By A Rogue Wave?
- How Do Cruise Ships Float And Not Tip Over?
- Surviving Storms at Sea! (Real Stories from Cruise Ship Passengers)
Norwegian Cruise Line Warns Guests of Possible Legionnaires’ Disease Exposure on Norwegian Epic
Guests sailing aboard Norwegian Epic have received an unexpected and worrying health alert: they may have been exposed to Legionnaires’ disease. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) issued the warning on Tuesday…
Grey Skies Push Britons to Book Winter Sun Cruises as Stress Levels Rise
As the nights draw in and stress levels rise, more Britons are looking to swap grey skies for blue horizons. New research from UK travel agent Cruise118.com shows searches for…
Two Guests Kicked Off Royal Caribbean Cruise For Fighting
A Caribbean holiday aboard Harmony of the Seas took an unexpected turn this week after two internet personalities were removed from the Royal Caribbean ship following a fight on deck….
Norwegian Cruise Line Brings Back “Free at Sea” Ahead Of Black Friday Promo Period
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is reintroducing its signature “Free at Sea” program, replacing the short-lived More at Sea offer that launched in 2024. The return marks a return to a…
They should remove the NO JOGGING sign