‘Rogue wave’ slams into whale-watching boat, sending 4 to hospital, VA officials say
A “rogue wave” slammed into a whale-watching boat, startling passengers on a coastal excursion in Virginia, officials say.
Four people were hurt and taken to a hospital after the tour boat “took a wave” on Saturday, according to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach.
Kirsten McGrath was on board when the wave suddenly pushed her and her husband off their feet, WVEC reports.
“It happened very fast,” McGrath told the station. “We were laughing and having a good time then, boom! It just hit us like a brick wall.”
Video shows unsuspecting passengers were aboard when water crashed over a railing, according to footage shared with WAVY.
“My understanding is the boat was jostled pretty good,” aquarium spokesperson Matt Klepeisz told The Virginian-Pilot.
It was likely a “rogue wave” hitting the boat as it traveled through Rudee Inlet, an aquarium official told WAVY.
“The captain safely navigated it to the Virginia Beach Fishing Center, where first responders assisted getting all passengers off the boat, assessing injuries, and making sure all passengers were dry,” Klepeisz told McClatchy News in an email.
Of the 124 people on board, four had minor injuries and went to a hospital for evaluation, Klepeisz said.
An investigation from the U.S. Coast Guard is underway, aquarium officials say.
This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 9:56 AM with the headline "‘Rogue wave’ slams into whale-watching boat, sending 4 to hospital, VA officials say."
