MIAMI, FL— September 14, 2011 – Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Marine investigators are conducting a probe into an unfortunate boating accident that claimed the life of a fisherman on the morning of Sept. 12. According to information provided by Patch, a 13-foot stick-steered boat went out of control in the Intracostal Waterway for unknown reasons, ejecting two fishermen, both of whom were not wearing lifejackets, into the water.
Reports indicated 68-year-old “Fireman John” Joseph Litz and 70-year-old Anthony S. Naismith were aboard the vessel Carolina Skiff when it began spinning out of control around 10:43 a.m. Although the fishermen were apparently able to report the emergency situation, they were thrown into the water for unknown reasons.
Another boater in the area appeared to have witnessed the boat accident reportedly helped retrieve the men from the water. Shortly after, a boat operated by Clearwater Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the site to tend to the victims.
While Naismith did not appear to suffer any injuries in the watercraft accident, responding emergency crews performed CPR on an unresponsive Litz before transporting him to the Seminole Boat Ramp so he could be rushed to Morton Plant Hospital for further medical attention. Sadly, Litz, who worked for the Pinellas Park Fire Department for nearly four decades, died at the medical center.
According statistics provided by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), 668 boat accidents were reported during the year 2010. A total of 79 boating deaths and 389 injuries resulted from those boat crashes and accidents. Furthermore, Florida has the highest number of boating accidents in the nation.
About the Miami cruise ship injury lawyers and boat accident attorneys of Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.
With four decades of experience litigating the multifaceted personal injury and wrongful death claims of boat and cruise line passengers who are hurt or assaulted onboard, the knowledgeable Florida boating accident lawyers of Gerson & Schwartz are dedicated to protecting the rights of these individuals and fighting to provide them with the compensation they deserve. Working closely with the National Center for Victims of Crime, the Miami personal injury attorneys of Gerson & Schwartz, P.A. strive to provide justice to individuals who suffer serious injuries in a wide variety of boating accidents.