Sapelo Island GA: A Deeply Tragic Incident During a Historic Celebration
Details of the Incident on Sapelo Island GA
DARIEN, Ga. — The seven people killed Saturday in a gangway collapse on a Georgia barrier island were all in their 70s, except for one woman in her 90s, the coroner said Sunday. An estimated 700 people were on Sapelo Island, about 72 miles south of Savannah, to celebrate the Gullah Geechee history and its unique blend of African culture and American life when the collapse took place.
Victims Identified
McIntosh County Coroner Melvin Anderson identified the deceased to NBC affiliate WSAV of Savannah as Jacqueline Crews Carter, 75, of Jacksonville, Florida; Cynthia Gibbs, 74, of Jacksonville; Charles L. Houston, 77, of Darien, Georgia; William Johnson Jr., 73, of Atlanta; Carlotta McIntosh, 93, of Jacksonville; Isaiah Thomas, 79, of Jacksonville; and Queen Welch, 76, of Atlanta.
Response Efforts
Authorities said about 20 people fell in the water when the gangway leading to the island’s Marsh Ferry Dock gave way shortly before 4 p.m. as a ferry was docked, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon said at a news conference Sunday. The crowds at Saturday’s celebration were sufficient that officials requested extra ferry trips to take visitors back to the mainland, Rabon said. A number of bystanders, including some of the 40 state employees on hand to deal with the extra crowds, jumped in the water as part of many attempts to save those who needed help.
A Tribute to Houston
Houston, one of the people who died, was a Department of Natural Resources chaplain who had been on hand for the celebration because he believed in preservation of the Gullah Geechee heritage and preservation of threatened communities.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.