Marina gangway collapses during fireworks

Video Report Transcript :

This is Mike Lednovich for ObserverTV News at the city marina. Saturday morning saw tourists headed to the city marina to look at the collapsed gangway that fell into the Amelia River during 4th of July fireworks sending stunned spectators into the water.

The gangway, boardwalks and marina docks were packed with people crowded together to watch the annual fireworks display. At about 9:15 Friday night, the gangway jammed with people buckled, making a loud noise that people described as sounding like gunfire.

Witnesses said they saw people fleeing the marina for safety, some of them panic stricken, until police were able to restore order and emergency vehicles arrived to rescue those on the twisted gangway wreckage.

There were conflicting reports of whether spectators were thrown into the river water by the failure of the gangway.

Police said while a few individuals sustained minor injuries, all were treated at the scene and none required transport for further medical care. Fernandina Police said additional details were to be provided following an investigation of the incident.

The gangway leads from the south parking lot, attached to the city boardwalk alongside Brett's Waterway Cafe and onto the marina fueling station and outside dock. An electrical cable and water line run under the damaged gangway to the outer docks. The entire marina was without power Saturday morning.

The city-owned gangway was custom made for the marina and is not intended to carry heavy loads of large crowds standing stationary on the structure. The gangway is inspected yearly in preparation for hurricane season.

Witnesses said there were no officials on hand to limit the number of people standing on the gangway and charter boat captains reported crowds on the gangway and along the docks to watch the fireworks.

City officials had no timeline for the removal of the gangway and a possible replacement. There is a secondary gangway leading from the marina office to the fueling station and outer dock.

One boat owner said that without water and electricity that he would be leaving Fernandina to relocate to a marina that could provide utilities.

The gangway was fabricated by Crescent Equipment Company based in McIntosh County, Georgia. The company has had a run of gangway failures recently with structures collapsing at Sapelo Island and St. Marys.

This is Mike Lednovich with ObserverTV News. Please like and subscribe to our channel.