Coast Guard: Water was calm on day of WaveRunner accident that killed UF Health Jacksonville CEO

3 years ago 410

Conditions were harmless astatine clip of accident, Coast Guard says

A antheral shared this photograph that helium took Saturday aft the idiosyncratic watercraft incident.

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. – The h2o was calm connected Saturday and conditions were harmless astatine the clip of a idiosyncratic watercraft mishap successful Palm Beach County that near UF Health Jacksonville CEO Dr. Leon Haley Jr. dead, according to the Coast Guard.

A man, who did not privation to beryllium named, told News4Jax that helium was connected the h2o erstwhile helium heard the mishap reported connected the VHF Channel 16.

The antheral said helium aboriginal came upon the country and took a photograph of the idiosyncratic watercraft up connected a jetty. He said helium besides saw a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission radical there.

FWC said it responded soon aft 10:30 a.m. Saturday to the idiosyncratic watercraft incidental astatine the Palm Beach Inlet’s South Jetty. According to FWC, Haley, 56, was operating the Yamaha WaveRunner erstwhile helium was ejected from the idiosyncratic watercraft and was recovered successful the h2o wearing a beingness jacket. The Coast Guard said helium was successful unstable information and 1 of its vessel crews attempted to resuscitate him astatine the scene. FWC said Haley was taken to a infirmary successful West Palm Beach, wherever helium died.

The antheral who was astatine the country of the mishap echoed what the Coast Guard said astir the h2o that day.

“It was calm,” helium said. “It was precise calm successful the inlet.”

Another antheral told News4Jax that helium and his person jumped into the h2o to effort to prevention Haley. He said they were capable to support him supra h2o until archetypal responders arrived.

FWC investigators could beryllium seen astatine the jetty connected Monday. They were taking photos and utilizing a drone to effort and portion unneurotic what happened. News4Jax has been successful interaction with FWC and was told that astatine this clip it can’t springiness retired immoderate circumstantial details due to the fact that it’s an progressive and ongoing investigation.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigators could beryllium seen astatine the jetty connected Monday. (WJXT)