Boating Accident over the weekend

capsized boat1

A nice relaxing afternoon on the lake with my buds turned into anything but after my boat capsized in a freak accident yesterday! OMG! I’m still trying to grasp it all, it took hours to “sink” in that this is real last night.

My friends Cindy, Lisa & I are known as the “scream queens”. Always up for adventure, chasing roller coasters and thrill rides…however yesterday we were just looking for a little relaxation and bbq. My kids had just left for scout camp for the week, and it was just the girls. We hopped in the boat (20′ ski boat) and headed out for a little “putt” (aka” slow cruise”) around the lake.

It was a busy afternoon on the water, lots of boats out enjoying the nice weather. About 5 minutes into our trip, we hit some big waves from a passing boat. My boat took water over the bow from the waves, which happens occasionally. However, something went terribly wrong this time. The nose went down and continued to fill the entire boat with water (with us still in it) and then the entire boat began to capsize. All within a matter of 2 minutes!! Cindy will tell you she was terrified, I never had a chance to be scared as it was happening because I still couldn’t believe it was actually happening. At this point, the girls had swam out of the boat, it’s starting to capsize and I’m still sitting in the drivers seat in shock…a captain about to go down in her boat. Thankfully all of the other boats in the area came to rescue, and I remember someone yelling to get out of the boat which snapped me back to the moment that I was about to be under this boat.

We all got out of it safely, thanks to God,  my neighbors, friends and good people I don’t know who were in passing boats and stopped to help. And also to my friend Lisa who insisted everyone wear their life jackets, not just keep them in the boat. Ok, confession, I still didn’t have mine on it was under my feet – we were only doing 10mph. I thought what could possibly go wrong? Lisa was able to save her cell phone because had her life jacket on and could swim with one arm up (that’s my public service announcement – life jackets save more than just lives, they save cell phones too).

I’m eternally grateful to all who helped us. It took a small army and a lot of good and smart people. I’m told we may  even be able to save the boat, can’t say the same for my phone.

Below: Scream Queens Cindy Ruggiero, Tami White & Lisa Schwartz.

scream queens

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Comments

  1. Thank god you are all okay. Take some time to chill and relax now – the shock will kick in soon enough … either that, or a very large whisky !

    Love ‘n’ hugs xxxxxxx

  2. Oh wow… So glad that you and everyone on board are safe. A very scary afternoon. Hope you can save your boat (although you’ll probably need a new boat motor). Cell phones can be replaced – just think newer and better and maybe a waterproof case.

  3. Gina Lindsey says

    God Tami! I’m so happy you guys are fine… assets in life leave and come, but life does not… hugs,
    Gina Lindsey (Northern CA)

  4. Donna Billingsley says

    Tami,
    Thank heaven everyone is alright! I certainly hope that the boat can be saved too. Have you found out why this happened? What a freak accident. Glad you are safe.

  5. We sunk our boat many, many years ago! You should be able to salvage the boat…we were able to with ours! So glad that no one was hurt and that everyone got out safely. You’ll be talking about this one for awhile! Glad that it was adults only and your kids weren’t in the boat!!

  6. jane harrah says

    omg…..and tg! Small blessings come in many guises…like friends that make you wear jackets…that is what I call good friends! So glad everyone is okay. Special thanks to all around that came to the rescue. People are special!

  7. That is so incredibly scary. I’m terrified of boats for some reason, so reading this, I was probably almost as freaked out as you were during the incident. So glad the only thing lost was a cell phone and not a life, or your boat.
    We have never “met” or spoken on line, but I follow you on FB, Twitter and Pinterest and your blog. I can’t live without my Stampin With Tami updates!

  8. OMG…..so glad you are all ok. Amazing that such things can happen in a matter of minutes.

  9. Rhonda Miller says

    Oh my goodness, how scary. I’m glad you’re all ok and that there were people there to help you.

  10. Oh Tami, I am so sorry that happened to you and your friends! Thank God you are all alright and there were lots of good people around to help out. I just became a long distance member of your team in May ((HUGS)) and have not met you yet but I watch your videos for inspiration and you are just so darn sweet & funny! LOL! Bless you all and hope your boat survives! Happy Stamping hun!

  11. Tami, Thank Goodness you and your friends are safe. We have bow rider and I’m always nervous on the water. Boating is an experience everytime and thankfully you can tell about yours!!! We would be lost without you! Take care of yourself and keep on stampin’ !!

  12. SO grateful there is a good ending to your story, everyone was safe. Sounds like you have a great friend there. Relax and rest now.

  13. Thanks be to God that all of you are alive & safe….I’m not going to say you are fine, because how could you be after that ordeal. Many thanks to all the people who stopped to help.

  14. My God! I’m so glad to hear you are safe and alive! You are definitely very brave, as I would have definitely panicked. Please, please be careful on your adventures.

  15. Stay safe.

  16. Phyllis B. says

    So very glad you are all OK! What an experience…I imagine you are still shaking! Take care of yourself. You will stop re-living the incident eventually, but it will take time. So glad you only lost your cell phone!

  17. Mindy Cottingham says

    Happy to hear you and your friends are weren’t hurt! Thank God! Hope your boat survives as well.

  18. Mary Ann says

    So glad to hear that you and your friends are okay. Sounds like a terrifying accident. It was nice to hear that so many people came to your aid. Take care!

  19. OMG! Glad to hear you are all OK. Wow.

  20. Barbie Loughlin says

    So glad you have a friend who makes you wear the ugly life jacket… Blessings for all of you

  21. What a scary story. So glad to hear you are okay, hope your boat will be also. Thank God he is always looking out for us and that there are people willing to help others. Kinda weird how things look on the other side of events like that and you think -did I just go through that? did it really happen? 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us.

  22. Wow-what a story- so glad that everyone is OK.

  23. I got the chills just reading about your near disaster. Your boat and motor should be alright if the lake was freshwater. Thank goodness you had lots of help getting you to shore. The life jacket doesn’t do much good under your feet!

  24. Anita Kehn says

    Sorry about your accident but so glad you’re okay. Just wanted to thank you for the Swallowtail Technique Tutorial as a thank you for my order. This is the first time I have tried Stampin’ Up products so am excited about them. I love your videos ~ they are a BIG help to making beautiful cards.

  25. Carol Carriveau says

    Wow, how scary! So glad everyone is okay, and hope your boat can be saved…. Seems as though you each had your Angles with you, thankfully! Now if you can get your blood pressure back to normal and start to relax and breath….you will all be okay…. Sending best healing wishes your way!

  26. Praise God you weren’t hurt! Being a past waterskier and boater, have had a like experience. Scary! Hope your boat can be saved! Lifevests, cell phone, people to rescue…..someone was watching out for you!

  27. Melinda Thomas says

    Wow! So very thankful that you and your friends are okay.

  28. Dear Tami,
    I’m so glad you All are doing fine and were not hurt or worse. Angles were watching over you that day. Thank God you are all ok.
    An Online Stampin’Up Fan of Tami White.
    Eve

  29. I am glad to hear you and your friends are safe.

  30. Thank God you are okay.

  31. Rosemary Paul says

    I am so glad you are OK. I had a similar incident happen to me. We took our 20’er into the Intracoastal Waterway for a leisurely day on the water and ending it at this restaurant that had docking for boats. It was a no wake zone and I was just about to throw a mooring rope to the dock when this idiot came flying in with a JET BOAT! We saw him earlier disturbing all of the wildlife in the area spitting a huge tail in the air. He made a huge turn into a mooring that a huge waves swept over our boat. I fell into the water and my hubby is trying to shut the engine off completely in case I got pulled toward the props. How quickly a sedate sail on the water ending with a plate of stuffed potato skins and a glass of wine turned into a drenching.The other boater never looked at us or at the mayhem he caused.
    I am so happy you are safe.

  32. Oh My! So scary! Glad you are ok! Good thing there was lots of people around!

  33. Sorry to hear about your boat! But glad that you are ok!!!!

  34. So glad you are ok! That is scary!

  35. In the twinkling of an eye something can go incredibly wrong. So glad to hear you are all OK. Hurray for the passers by!