NFL Players Boat Capsized Because Of Improper Anchoring
NFL Players Boat Capsized Because Of Improper Anchoring…According to The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the fishing boat carrying Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, NFL free agent Corey Smith and former University of South Florida players William Bleakley and Nick Schuyler, capsized last month because it was improperly anchored.
In this Coast Guard photo, Nick Schuyler clings to the overturned boat. Nick Schuyer was the only survivor. The other three boaters are still missing as of February 28, 2009.
Schuyler survived the boat accident, which happened 35 miles west of St. Petersburg, Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico, during a bad storm.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the men were unable to pull up the anchor of their boat to head back to port.
First, Cooper tried to rev the boat forward to free the anchor, but the 21 foot single engine craft then capsized.
The report said that the “improper anchoring” to a portside bracket, the attempt to throttle the boat forward to release the anchor and the “failure to leave enough slack anchor line to compensate for top-water Gulf conditions” caused the accident.
Nick Schuyler told his rescuers that the boat was anchored in the evening when it was overturned by waves during a storm. All four men were clinging to the boat for a time, but became separated during the storm and night.
The four football players, who were not inexperienced fishermen, had embarked on the 21 foot single engine boat from the Seminole Boat Ramp near Clearwater Pass about 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
Why they did not cut the anchor loose is beyond me. Anyone who goes out into see has knives and wire cutters for emergencies.
NFL Players Boat Capsized Because Of Improper Anchoring will be something Nick Schuyler the family and friends of the other boaters, will never forget. It was a horrible accident and BBAC’s condolences got out to all of the friends family and fans. For the full story go to CNN News.
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