A scuba diver was airlifted to hospital after a fishing boat running on autopilot collided with an anchored dive boat off the New Jersey coast, according to New Jersey State Police.
The incident occurred on the morning of July 31, roughly 14km into the Atlantic Ocean off Barnegat Township. Four divers had anchored their 10 metre private vessel above a shipwreck, with two of the group in the water at the time of the collision.
Police said a 10 metre Grady-White fishing boat, travelling at approximately 25 knots with its autopilot engaged, struck the anchored dive boat and passed over it. One of the two divers aboard the boat was unharmed, but the other was thrown into the water. He reportedly swallowed a significant amount of seawater and suffered injuries to his head and one arm. Neither of the two divers who were underwater at the time of the collision was reported injured.
Coast Guard response
The US Coast Guard received the emergency call at approximately 11:45am. Coast Guard personnel transferred the injured diver from the damaged boat to a Coast Guard vessel, after which he was winched aboard a helicopter and flown to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Centre’s mainland campus in Galloway Township. The Coast Guard has not released the diver’s identity or issued an update on his condition.
Both vessels took on water following the collision. TowBoatUS Barnegat Light and Beach Haven dispatched salvage crews to the scene, and pumps were used to keep the boats afloat until they could be towed to Long Key Marina in Waretown.
No injuries were reported among those aboard the fishing boat, which is believed to have been carrying two people. It has not yet been established why the operator failed to see or avoid the anchored dive boat. Engaging an autopilot does not remove a skipper’s responsibility to maintain a proper lookout at all times.
Investigation ongoing
The New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau is investigating the collision. No charges have been announced at this stage, and the exact circumstances that led to the crash remain unconfirmed pending the outcome of the investigation.
This is a developing story. No cause has been officially confirmed, and this article should be updated rather than replaced as further details from the investigation emerge.
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