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Dozens of high school students rescued after rowing boats capsize in Connecticut
“This was a very serious incident with a very fortunate outcome.”
Two teenagers were taken to the hospital after several boats carrying dozens of high school students capsized in Westport, Conn. in what officials are calling a “serious incident” with a “fortunate outcome.”
Three rowing sculls and one chase boat, holding 29 people in total, were in the water near Cockenoe Island Wednesday when two boats capsized due to a change in weather, Westport Police Chief Kofi Koskinas said at a press conference Wednesday.
Officials responded to Compo Beach at about 5 p.m. for reports that there were multiple people in the water.
“Responding units found a chaotic scene of youths swimming to shore, arriving by boat, and some still in the water near Cockenoe Island,” Koskinas said.
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The boats set off from Saugatuck Rowing Club and were carrying 28 high school students ranging in age from 14 to 18 and their coach, officials said.
As the boats reached Cockenoe Island, the weather changed, causing the rowers to try and turn the boats around to return to shore. That’s when two rowing sculls began filling with water and capsized, Koskinas said.
“These individuals swam to the chase boat and began to hang onto the side of that boat which caused the chase boat to sink as well,” officials said.
Nineteen people in total were in the water and 10 people, including the coach, were able to stay in their vessels during the incident, according to police.
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Upon arrival, responding officials began helping victims out of the water and providing medical care. Two students were transported to Norwalk Hospital for hypothermia, police said. All others involved in the incident were checked by medical personnel.
The last victim was rescued from the water at about 6 p.m., Koskinas said, meaning some people were in the water between 40 to 50 minutes.
At the time, the air temperature was 40 degrees and the water temperature was 44 degrees, according to officials.
A total of eight ambulances and 20 personnel were on scene after the accident, and several agencies, including the Coast Guard, assisted with the rescue.
“This was truly a team effort,” Koskinas said. “We are grateful for our surrounding agencies who assisted us with this incident and remind our communities that when a large scale event, like this, happens we all show up to help.”
Police provided an update Thursday morning, saying an investigation into the incident was ongoing. On Wednesday, Koskinas said the main goal of the investigation would be to “prevent this from ever happening again.”
“The investigation will focus on any weather advisories that were posted, available life jackets, experience of the rower and coaches, and suitability of the vessels,” police said.
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One capsized rowing skull is still missing, while the two other boats were recovered Wednesday, police said. The chase boat that sank was recovered Thursday.
Both students who were taken to the hospital with signs of hypothermia had been released as of Thursday.
“This was a very serious incident with a very fortunate outcome,” Koskinas said.
“Things could’ve gone very differently tonight, and they didn’t because we have an excellent, excellent police department, fire department, and EMS department here in Westport,” First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker said at the press conference.
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