Mast Snaps On Whale-Watching Boat In Hawaii, Sinking The Vessel; 1 Dead

HONOLULU (AP) -- The mast broke on a whale-watching catamaran, killing a man and prompting the rescue of 50 people as the boat sank, authorities said.<br/><br/>A 48-year-old man died in the incident Sunday,

Monday, March 26th 2007, 5:47 pm

By: News On 6


HONOLULU (AP) -- The mast broke on a whale-watching catamaran, killing a man and prompting the rescue of 50 people as the boat sank, authorities said.

A 48-year-old man died in the incident Sunday, authorities said. Two people were taken to a hospital in stable condition, and three people were treated for hypothermia.

It was not immediately clear how the victim died. Authorities were investigating the incident.

The Kiele V catamaran was nearly two miles off Maui when the mast broke, the Coast Guard said. Winds were about 20 mph.

Two other whale-watching boats responded to a radio call, authorities said. Other boats, the Coast Guard and firefighters helped take passengers and crew members to shore as the boat foundered.

The Kiele V captain and crew tried to cut away the rigging lines to free the sail, said Jason Moore, a magazine photographer aboard one of the other boats.

"The back side was being pulled down, and the captain only had a hacksaw to cut the rigging," Moore said.

The Coast Guard responded with a helicopter and rescue boats,authorities said.

It was the second death aboard a Hawaii tour catamaran in less than four months. In December, a 13-year-old California boy was killed when a mast snapped in brisk winds, pinning him.
logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

March 26th, 2007

September 29th, 2024

July 4th, 2024

April 15th, 2024

Top Headlines

October 11th, 2024

October 11th, 2024

October 11th, 2024

October 11th, 2024