Strong winds drove a 30-foot catamaran into a bridge piling near the Manatee Avenue Bridge on Tuesday, July 28, snapping the vessel's mast and stranding two people in the water.

Three agencies coordinated the rescue: Manatee County Beach Patrol, Manatee County Emergency Medical Services, and West Manatee Fire Rescue. According to West Manatee Fire Rescue, the wind pushed the sailboat into the piling, breaking the mast and leaving both occupants unable to get to shore on their own.

A Beach Patrol lifeguard and a West Manatee Fire Rescue rescue swimmer entered the water and swam to the damaged catamaran. They assisted the injured boater and removed both occupants from the vessel.

Both survived.

Crews brought the two individuals ashore at the Kingfish Boat Ramp, where EMS personnel evaluated them. One person had suffered a head laceration and was transported to a local hospital. Officials have not released an update on that person's condition.

Multi-agency response in action

The rescue demonstrated the kind of inter-agency coordination that Manatee County formalized six weeks earlier. On June 16, the Board of County Commissioners voted to establish the Manatee County Task Force, a multi-agency emergency response team that includes West Manatee Fire Rescue and is built to handle marine and swift water rescues, among other complex incidents.

"We already have the people, the equipment and the expertise," Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske said in June, when commissioners approved the task force. "By bringing these resources together, we are creating a stronger, more unified response capability for Manatee County."

Manatee County Beach Patrol, led by Chief Chet Brown, conducted more than 300 water rescues in the prior year, according to a recent WTSP report on the agency's operations. The unit also helped locate and reunite more than 200 missing people with their families during that period.

Manatee County officials praised the teamwork among Beach Patrol lifeguards, EMS personnel, and West Manatee Fire Rescue, saying the agencies worked seamlessly together to bring Tuesday's incident to a safe conclusion.

Safety reminder for boaters

Officials are urging boaters to check marine conditions and weather forecasts before heading onto the water. Strong winds and rapidly changing weather can create dangerous conditions, according to Manatee County, making careful planning and extra caution essential for anyone heading out on the Gulf or the Manatee River.

Residents who witness a boating emergency should call 911.