Two individuals were rescued on Monday after their catamaran collided with a piling near the Manatee Avenue Bridge in Florida's Intracoastal Waterway. The impact caused the 30-foot vessel's mast to break, leaving the boaters stranded until rescue crews arrived.
One of the boaters suffered a minor head injury. Marine deputies, lifeguards, and fire personnel responded to the scene and assisted the individuals back to shore. Body camera footage from the rescue operation shows the catamaran's mast lying in the water.
Authorities indicated that strong winds may have been a factor in the crash, though the incident remains under investigation. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office noted on Facebook that "Summer thunderstorms can develop quickly, turning a day on the water into a dangerous situation in minutes."
Following the incident, the sheriff's office advised all boaters to check the weather forecast for their entire trip before setting out on the water.