Diver struck by boat near Jupiter Inlet

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

MrChen

ScubaBoard Supporter
ScubaBoard Supporter
Messages
2,002
Reaction score
2,008
Location
SE Florida
# of dives
200 - 499
JUPITER, Fla. - A diver was critically injured when they were reportedly struck by a boat near the Jupiter Inlet Sunday afternoon.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue crews and Jupiter Police were stationed near Dubois Park as they gathered info
and transported the injured diver to trauma hawk. The diver, an adult male, was flown to a St. Mary's Medical
Center for his injuries. A second person from the boating accident received minor injuries. She was transported
to Jupiter Medical Center for treatment. Details on the accident were not immediately available.

Diver struck by boat near Jupiter Inlet - wptv.com



---------- Post added June 8th, 2014 at 07:04 PM ----------

If you go to the link, there's a video by the local news. They keep showing a sign which indicates no swimming or diving. A lot of boats, including dive ops, drive their boats out the inlet. The inlet can also be very rough, but according to MSW it's been pretty calm. Jupiter Inlet Surf Report, Surf Forecast and Live Surf Webcams
 
It was reported on the news this morning that he has passed from his injuries. Was hoping for a better outcome. The news was interviewing people that witnessed this accident and from what was reported, they were diving in the inlet.
 
I suppose we need to wait and see what else comes out.
Do we know if they were on scuba or just snorkeling? I ask because people do snorkel along the jetties.
 
the inlet is not a smart place to swim, dive, etc. Wonder if he even had a dive flag up?

Why is an inlet not a smart place to dive?

In NJ we dive inlets all the time - some have hours for diving - other inlets are wide open. If you are not diving in the middle or surfacing in the middle - I have not seen any close calls or incidents. Inlet diving during a slack tide is often the best diving you get around here next to a charter or boat dive.
 
@Basking Ridge Diver... if you've ever had to take a boat out of Jupiter Inlet, then you'd know why. It can get pretty crazy!
 
11 people have died there since 1998. Very difficult for boaters who might be too busy trying to ride the swells over the sand bar, keep from capsizing or crashing on the rocks to keep proper eyes out divers. The inlet is not much wider than a football field.
Besides, the place is posted "no swimming"

---------- Post added June 9th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ----------

From Spear Board

RIP Andrew Harris - Diver struck by boat near Jupiter Inlet - June 8, 2014 - Spearboard.com - The World's Largest Spearfishing Diving Boating Social Media Forum
 
Palm Beach Post:

Updated: 11:36 a.m. Monday, June 9, 2014 | Posted: 6:49 a.m. Monday, June 9, 2014


FWC: Diver struck by boat was Jupiter man, 26; investigation continues




Facebook
Andrew Harris

By Sonja Isger and Alexandra Seltzer

Palm Beach Post Staff Writers

Update, 11:25 a.m.: The FWC is reporting that the diver who died in the boat crash Sunday was Andrew Harris, 26, of Jupiter. He was snorkeling in the water with Nicole Kapfer, 26, FWC spokeswoman Katie Johnson said. Kapfer was treated at the hospital for her injuries and released.

The two were with a group of people who were boating in the inlet and were the only ones in the water at the time. It’s unclear if a flag marked the spot where they were, Johnson said.

The boat that struck them stopped. FWC investigators will be talking to those aboard again today.

“At this time, no charges have been filed,” Johnson said.

Harris’ facebook page indicates he attended Jupiter High School and Florida State University and was currently working in insurance. The page paints a young man who loved the water and the outdoors and is full of photos with him holding his latest fish catches.

Original post: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is investigating the boating crash that killed a man and injured a woman who were diving near the Jupiter Inlet Sunday.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue crews were called to Dubois Park just west of the inlet at about 4:15 p.m. The man, reported to be in his 20s, was flown to St. Mary’s Medical Center, but later died of his injuries, FWC spokeswoman Katie Johnson said. The woman he was diving with, also described as in her 20s, suffered less severe injuries and was taken to Jupiter Medical Center.

The names of those involved have not been released, nor have more details about how the crash happened.

On Jan. 19, a man reported he suffered a torn hamstring and a fractured pelvis after he was struck by a boat while he was free-diving off The Breakers on South County Road. Investigators never reported finding the boat that hit Jorge Caba.

As is required by state law, Caba, a diver for 40 years, was diving with a flag that was intended to alert boaters that he was in the water.
It is unclear if the divers in the Jupiter Inlet used a flag, Johnson said.

When boaters spot a diver-down flag, they are supposed to stay 300 feet away or put the boat in idle. A bill sits on the governor’s desk that would make sure these flags are easier to spot. The legislation passed by both the state senate and house during the spring session requires the flags sport the divers-down symbol, a red field with a white diagonal stripe on both sides, defines the minimum size and allows divers to display divers-down bouys instead of flags. The bouys display the symbol that is at least one square foot on four sides.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

Back
Top Bottom