A 20-foot airboat capsized Wednesday on the Outer Banks, injuring 11 people — two of them seriously.
The Coast Guard received word from a Dare County 911 dispatcher about a boat registered to Outer Banks Adventures capsizing a half-mile west of Oregon Inlet about 10:15 a.m.
“The dispatcher also said various degrees of injuries were reported and that all passengers were reported to be wearing life jackets,” the Coast Guard said in a news release.
The Coast Guard’s Oregon Inlet station launched two rescue boats and a helicopter aircrew from Air Station Elizabeth City, arriving to find that the boat flipped, then righted itself. One person who was pinned under the airboat and suffering from potential chest and head injuries was quickly rescued, the release said. Another helicopter was called to take that person to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
Photo courtesy Coast Guard
Coast Guard crews on the scene of a touring boat crash on the Outer Banks Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Photo courtesy Coast Guard
Crews then rescued the remaining 10 people in the water. They were taken to Station Oregon Inlet, where their care was transferred to awaiting emergency medical teams.
Two people suffered serious injuries in the crash, and the others were treated for injuries not considered life-threatening, the Coast Guard said.
A commercial salvage boat towed the OBX 1 to Pirates Cove Marina in Manteo. The incident remains under investigation by the Coast Guard.
Outer Banks Adventures is a popular company offering airboat rides, wildlife tours and other outdoor activities geared toward tourists.
Kari Pugh, [email protected]
