One man pronounced dead after boat overturns in Stuart, FL

2010-01-26 06:12:45 (GMT) (JusticeNewsFlash.com - Justice News Flash, Personal Injury)

Wiki Image: Boat flipped over near St. Lucie Inlet, one dead.

Legal News for Florida Personal Injury Attorneys. Boat flipped over during rough sea conditions in Stuart, killing one man.

Florida personal injury lawyer alerts- Fishing charter rescued men after boat overturned, one eventually pronounced dead.

Stuart, FL—Rough sea conditions seemingly contributed to an incident in which a boat overturned approximately 1/3-mile from the St. Lucie Inlet on Sunday morning, January 24, 2010. The 20-foot boat was reportedly occupied by two people when it flipped over, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

Officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) allegedly reported, “The boat took on a wave and capsized in the rough surf”. Bumpy 5-to-7 foot waves were reported offshore that day. Thankfully the captain of a fishing charter boat, Infinity, noticed the two men in the water, on his way back to the inlet. The boat’s captain, Charlie Burns, was allegedly on his way back after a client aboard his boat became seasick. Burns apparently had to quickly alter his course to avoid striking the men in the water.

Sloppy sea conditions made it even more difficult to rescue the men though Burns and his ship mate Clint Bradley, were eventually able to get a secure line on them and pull the victims through the vessel’s tuna door, located on the stern.

One of the men involved in the incident, 65-year-old Richard Cozzi, allegedly had seawater in his lungs and sadly died on his way back to shore. He was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital. Upon arriving at Sandsprit Park in Stuart, Martin County Fire Rescue officials also transported 50-year-old James Manson to Martin Memorial Hospital South, who was treated and then released that afternoon. Investigations are being conducted by the FWC.

Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan- Legal News for Florida Personal Injury Lawyers.