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#1
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Fina's got Flash
Gasoline on boats.
Do you have an atomic 4 ? ************************************************** ************************************************** By Ryan Mills (Contact) Wednesday, January 24, 2007 Jonah Stringfield's head popped out of the water on Monday afternoon and he immediately began scanning the horizon. In the distance he saw his good friend and boss, Cameron Elliott of Naples, floating lifelessly. "He didn't look like he was moving at all," Stringfield said. Moments earlier Stringfield, 22, and Elliott, 35, were preparing to take Elliott's 42-foot sailboat, the Ocean Song, back to the Marco River Marina. They had spent some time that sunny afternoon playing in the water about three miles offshore in Big Marco Pass and taking turns towing each other in a yellow dinghy they had tied behind the sailboat. Stringfield said he's been working with Elliott's company, Island Magic Contracting, for about a year. Just after 2 p.m. they decided to head in. For most of the afternoon, Stringfield said, they had been sailing. But they were having trouble getting the main sail up, so Elliott decided to use the motor. Stringfield said he was standing in the back of the boat pulling in ropes while Elliott tried to start the engine, which they had been having trouble with earlier that afternoon. "As I'm pulling the ropes on the boat, the next thing I know I'm being blown into the water," Stringfield said. "When I came up I was looking around and I jumped in the life raft on the back of the boat. At that time I saw Cameron in the water." Stringfield pulled the dinghy up to the sailboat, where it was still tied, untied the knot and pushed himself away, he said. "As fast as I could I pulled Cameron out of the water," Stringfield said. "After I pulled him into the boat, all he was saying was, 'What happened? I'm hurt.'¤" "I didn't know what to do," Stringfield said. Captain Robert Fiermonti of Six Chuter Charters was out in Big Marco Pass fishing with two other men when he heard the explosion in the distance. Fiermonti, who knows both Elliott and Stringfield because they docked Elliott's sailboat near his, said he pointed out to Elliott that afternoon that his engine was smoking a little too much. Elliott yelled back to him that he had a fire extinguisher on board, Fiermonti said. "They were basically burning some old fuel out of the tank because it's been sitting for a while," Fiermonti said. "All of the safety gear was in order. The fire extinguisher was there. They had a little trouble getting the boat started." When Fiermonti heard the explosion he immediately cut all the fishing lines and headed off to help. Stringfield said he didn't know how long it took Fiermonti to get there, but said "it was pretty fast." When Fiermonti's boat arrived on scene, he and his passengers worked to move the yellow dinghy away from the burning sailboat, he said. "The fuel was in the water and we didn't want our boat to go up," Fiermonti said. "We started towing them away." One of the men on Fiermonti's boat was talking with the U.S. Coast Guard, who gave them permission to bring Stringfield and Elliott aboard, Fiermonti said. Stringfield said he got aboard first. "At first I went in there and I assisted in helping the other guys bring Cameron into the boat, the big boat that came and got us," Stringfield said. The Sheriff's Office escorted Fiermonti's boat into the Snook Inn, 1215 Bald Eagle Drive, where Stringfield and Elliott were treated by paramedics. Elliott was eventually taken to Tampa General Hospital via air ambulance with second- and third-degree burns on his arms, legs, chest and face. Hospital officials said Tuesday night that Elliott, who has a wife and two children, remained in critical condition. "It was as bad as it sounds," Fiermonti said. "He'll be in the hospital for a long time if he makes it through. The guy is a great guy." Stringfield only suffered minor burns on his armpits and on his back, and received one stitch in the back of his head, he said. "I'm traumatized just seeing my friend get burned up so bad," Stringfield said. "I send the best out to his family. I know his wife and kids must be taking it hard." Elliott had been restoring the 35-year-old sailboat for about eight months, Stringfield and Fiermonti said. They both described the vessel as his dream boat. Elliott also had another boat he was restoring, they said. "He definitely is an experienced mechanic and an experienced boater," said Dani Mochella, spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The FWC is the lead agency investigating the explosion. She said that reports that there was a third person on the boat when it exploded were incorrect. "It appears this was just a terrible accident," Moschella said. Two boats from the Marco Island and Isles of Capri fire departments extinguished the fire on the sailboat, which eventually sunk in the Marco River while Sea Tow of Marco Island attempted to tow it back to shore. It is still unclear why the boat exploded, Moschella said. "That's a basic tenant of boating safety, to make sure everything on your boat works before you go out in the water," Moschella said. "Sometimes you can't tell by looking at the equipment if there is going to be a problem. Mr. Elliott may have done a complete safety check and this happened anyway." John McLaughlin, owner of Sea Tow Marco Island, said it hasn't been determined if anyone is going to retrieve the sailboat. "I know they are contemplating whether to leave it or take it," McLaughlin said. "I guess they're trying to determine if it is a hazardous situation." Elliott is the son of longtime Marco Island residents Gary and Sandra Elliott. Gary Elliott is president-elect of the Marco Island Area Chamber of Commerce. The Elliotts are owners of Interiors, Interiors, Interiors on North Collier Boulevard. |
#2
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Fina's got Flash
On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:21:27 -0800, Joe wrote:
One of the men on Fiermonti's boat was talking with the U.S. Coast Guard, who gave them permission to bring Stringfield and Elliott aboard, Fiermonti said. Stringfield said he got aboard first. Could someone clarify this? I sure would follow any Coast Guard advice, but I wasn't aware permission was needed. |
#3
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Fina's got Flash
On Feb 13, 9:00 pm, thunder wrote:
On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:21:27 -0800, Joe wrote: One of the men on Fiermonti's boat was talking with the U.S. Coast Guard, who gave them permission to bring Stringfield and Elliott aboard, Fiermonti said. Stringfield said he got aboard first. Could someone clarify this? I sure would follow any Coast Guard advice, but I wasn't aware permission was needed. My guess it the the USCG was in route. With the major burns the guy suffered it might have been better to leave him in a dink until proper rescue equipment arrived. With the gasoline on the water the USCG most likely advised them to move him away from the area. And if faster then to bring the guy to the dock. Permission is not required to rescue anyone. The fellow lived, had dead skin removed yesterday. Seems he will recover. I would never have a gasoline boat, cept a dink or a ski boat that has no closed spaces. Joe |
#4
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Fina's got Flash
"Joe" wrote For most of the afternoon, Stringfield said, they had been sailing. But they were having trouble getting the main sail up, so Elliott decided to use the motor. Stringfield said he was standing in the back of the boat pulling in ropes while Elliott tried to start the engine, which they had been having trouble with earlier that afternoon. So they've been sailing most of the afternoon. But they were having trouble getting the mainsail up. So how were they sailing? Duh! Your reading comprehensions not the best is it Joe? Cheers, Ellen |
#5
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Fina's got Flash
On Feb 14, 11:40 am, "Ellen MacArthur"
wrote: "Joe" wrote For most of the afternoon, Stringfield said, they had been sailing. But they were having trouble getting the main sail up, so Elliott decided to use the motor. Stringfield said he was standing in the back of the boat pulling in ropes while Elliott tried to start the engine, which they had been having trouble with earlier that afternoon. So they've been sailing most of the afternoon. But they were having trouble getting the mainsail up. So how were they sailing? Duh! Your reading comprehensions not the best is it Joe? Cheers, Ellen Maybe it was a Ketch Nellie, with heavy winds Jib and Jigger is the way to go, if the wind died then they may have needed / wanted the main. With no wind he cranked the bomb. Thats my guess. Joe |
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