A collision between a boat and a personal watercraft May 2 near a Coquina Bayside boat ramp resulted in injuries.
Capt. John “Mike” Draayom of Bradenton Beach-based Paradise Boat Tours pulled a father and daughter, who had been on the PWC, from the Intracoastal Waterway near the Coquina Bayside boat ramps and Longboat Pass.
“The PWC operator and the boat passenger received injuries and both individuals were transported to the hospital for treatment,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission public information director Melody Kilborn said May 4 in a prepared statement.
“The (boat) operator and PWC passenger were uninjured,” she added.
Draayom was heading south with a tour group and saw a boat, a PWC and two people in the water.
“I saw the folks in the water and I thought, ‘Why are they swimming there?’ But of course, they weren’t swimming; they were floundering,” Draayom said.
Draayom deployed a ladder, assisted two people onboard and called 911.
The FWC, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, West Manatee Fire Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard responded.
The FWC is the lead agency in the ongoing investigation.
The father had neck, back and leg pain and the daughter had pain in her ribs, Draayom said.
“I’m glad they had their life vests on; that’s what I can tell you,” he said.
Additionally, the passenger on the boat involved in the collision was struck in the head by the cowling — the removable engine cover — from the PWC.
The FWC towed the PWC. The boat operator drove on his own to the South Coquina Boat Ramp.
Draayom said he helped people in emergencies before but nothing so serious.
“I would just hope that anybody else would have done the same thing but some of those boats didn’t stop. So I don’t know if they were going to,” he said.
Draayom previously worked as a CPR and first-aid instructor.
Everyone on the tour boat remained seated and calm throughout the process, Draayom said. When they returned to shore, Draayom offered everyone aboard for the rescue May 2 another tour — on the house.
The cause of the collision remained unknown as of May 5.
To report a boating incident to the FWC, call 1-888-404-3922.