A pair of kayakers in a two-person kayak were enjoying some time in the water in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) when they decided to enter the Rudee Inlet. At the same time, a large charter boat called the Lost Pearl, also entered the Inlet. On-lookers noticed the charter boat approaching the kayakers. People waved their arms and screamed out to the operator of the charter boat to try and get their attention. Unfortunately, those warnings were not received.
The charter boat collided with the kayak sending both occupants under water. One of the kayakers, a female, was only under water for about 30 seconds. Unfortunately, the other kayaker, a male, was submerged for three to five minutes, according to the Virginian Pilot.
The male kayaker had to be taken to Virginia Beach General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He remains there, as of the date of this posting, in critical condition.
Here is a news report disucssing this awful boat-kayak accident:
There are many questions that remain unanswered about this terrible accident. Was the operator of the Lost Pearl distracted? Did they not see the kayakers and/or the numerous on-lookers waving to get their attention? How fast was the boat moving? We will have to wait and see what the incident reports, one of which will be completed by the U.S. Coast Guard, reveals.
All that we know right now is that a man is fighting for his life at Virginia Beach General Hospital. Being submerged under water for an extended period of time can cause severe damage to your body and could even result in brain damage.
Personal injuries that occur on waterways are often subject to federal Maritime Law as posting the State laws adjacent to the waterways where the accident occurs. An experienced personal injury lawyer who handles boating injury cases must analyze various circumstances. Federal Maritime laws place fairly high duties on boat owners and centuries of case precedents must be analyzed in some cases. Captains of boats in the navigable waterways have a variety of duties, including proper lookout, and many other maritime responsibilities.
As someone who enjoys kayaking, I can tell you from firsthand experience that I worry about collisions when I’m out in the water and see a large boat approaching. Many boaters are very cautious and are respectful of kayakers who are in the water. Unfortunately, some others are not so considerate and that can result in a serious boating accident.
But right now, let’s just hope the kayaker can pull through.