Whale sinks New Jersey firefighters’ boat, sending crew overboard
New Jersey firefighters were returning from a July 4th safety patrol when a whale burst from under their boat and they were just seconds away from escaping before taking on water.
The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. local time on July 4 at the mouth of Raritan Bay off the South Shore of Staten Island, south of the Arthur Kill. Carteret Fire and Emergency Department. A naval unit was returning to Carteret waters after assisting a routine regional security team in the Port of New York and New Jersey area.
A whale went under the boat’s stern and crashed into the ship, causing what the fire department described as “catastrophic damage.”
“The boat immediately began taking in water and there were only a few seconds left for the firefighters to abandon the ship,” the ministry said. he said. a newsletter On July 5th.
‘Heartbreaking’: A dead endangered whale was found on the bow of a cruise ship in an Alaskan port
A nearby recreational jet ski operator and another boater immediately helped rescue firefighters, the department said. Members of the Perth Amboy Fire Department Marine Unit and FMBA Local 58/258, branches of a firefighting union, also assisted in rescuing firefighters from the canal.
According to the ministry, all personnel on board survived the incident and no injuries were reported.
The department said a recreational vessel told authorities it observed a pod of whales breaching in the area before and after the collision. The circumstances surrounding the incident continue to be investigated.
‘This kind of incident is something that no one predicted’
The fire department said the incident was unusual for a maritime unit that routinely trains in water rescue and responding to maritime emergencies, fires and vehicle accidents.
“This type of incident is something no one expected,” the ministry said. “Understandably, it left those involved shaken, but we are incredibly grateful that everyone returned home safely to their families.”
The ministry also noted the importance of wearing life jackets, stating that every firefighter on the ship was wearing a personal flotation device when the ship was hit.
‘What do we learn from this?’: Why did scientists warn against saving Timmy the whale?
The department thanked numerous organizations, labor organizations and public officials for their support following the incident, including Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman, the Carteret County Council, the Jersey City Fire Department and the New Jersey Regional Fire Task Force.
“Yesterday’s events are a powerful reminder that every emergency response carries risk, no matter how routine a task may seem,” the ministry said. “We are incredibly grateful that each member returned home safely.”
Carteret is a township in northeastern Middlesex County, New Jersey, across the Arthur Kill tidal strait from Staten Island.
This article first appeared on USA TODAY: Whale sinks New Jersey firefighters’ boat, sending crew overboard
