By Redaccion
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Authorities in Georgia are investigating a tragic dock gangway collapse that killed seven people and injured several others Saturday during a cultural festival on Sapelo Island.
The island, located about 60 miles south of Savannah, is home to a small Gullah-Geechee community, descendants of formerly enslaved African Americans.
Walter Rabon, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, described the incident as a “catastrophic failure” during a news conference Sunday. “There should be very little maintenance needed for an aluminum gangway like that, but we’ll see what the investigation reveals,” Rabon said.
The collapse occurred during the island’s annual Cultural Day, which attracted nearly 700 visitors. Rabon confirmed that three people remain hospitalized in critical condition.
Chaos Unfolds During Annual Celebration
The gangway, installed in 2021, connected two ferry docks — one onshore and one used to board boats to and from the mainland. Rabon said an estimated 40 people were on the gangway when it gave way, plunging more than 20 people into the water. Emergency responders, including the U.S. Coast Guard, local firefighters, and sheriff’s deputies, arrived quickly by boat and helicopter to assist. Sapelo Island has no roads connecting it to the mainland, making rescue efforts especially challenging.
Ferry Crew Tried to Help but Found Victims Unresponsive
Ed Grovner, a senior mate on one of the ferries transporting visitors, said his crew arrived shortly after the collapse. “We saw lifejackets floating in the water, and people were trying to help those who had fallen,” Grovner told The Associated Press. Despite CPR efforts, two individuals were already unresponsive when crew members reached them.
“I couldn’t sleep last night,” Grovner said. “My wife told me I was hollering in my sleep, saying, ‘I’m going to save you.’ I wish I could have done more.”
Gullah-Geechee Traditions Interrupted by Disaster
Hogg Hummock, the focal point of the event, is one of the last remaining Gullah-Geechee communities. These coastal communities, scattered along the southeastern U.S. from North Carolina to Florida, have preserved many African traditions, including unique crafts and dialects. At the festival, attendees had been enjoying demonstrations of quilting, fishing net-making, and local cuisine when the tragedy struck.
Resident Jazz Watts said he arrived at the scene of the collapse to find responders and bystanders working together to pull people from the water. “Seeing people wrapped in blankets who didn’t make it—it’s traumatizing for everyone,” Watts said.
Human Chain and Rescue Efforts
Reginald Hall, another island resident, described the chaotic rescue efforts as the tide pulled victims toward the ocean. Hall said he joined other bystanders in forming a human chain to pass victims from the water to the shore, about 60 yards away. He recounted carrying a two-year-old child to safety before helping with the recovery of blanket-wrapped bodies.
“It was horrible,” Hall said. “We were just trying to save as many people as we could.”
Emergency Services Under Scrutiny
The incident has reignited frustrations among island residents, who say the lack of emergency services on Sapelo Island remains a serious concern. In 2015, residents filed a federal lawsuit against McIntosh County and the state of Georgia, citing inadequate healthcare and emergency infrastructure. The lawsuit was settled in 2022, with the county agreeing to build a helicopter pad on the island, but residents say that promise remains unfulfilled.
“There’s still no helicopter pad,” said Grovner, Hall, and Watts. Local officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the delay.
The ferry dock and gangway were rebuilt in 2021 following a previous settlement in which residents argued that the ferry system and its docks did not meet federal accessibility standards. Grovner noted that he had raised concerns about the gangway’s stability four months ago but said no action was taken.
Engineering Investigation Underway
A team of investigators specializing in engineering and accident reconstruction, supported by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, began examining the site Sunday to determine the cause of the collapse. Rabon said he was not aware of any formal complaints about the gangway prior to the incident.
Rabon identified one of the victims as Charles Houston Jr., a chaplain with the state’s natural resources agency. He also confirmed that none of the deceased were residents of the island, and residents reported they were unaware of any family members among the dead.
Preserving a Shrinking Community
Hogg Hummock, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, has seen its population dwindle over the years. Some families have sold their land to outsiders, leading to concerns about gentrification. In 2023, a zoning change doubled the allowable size of homes in Hogg Hummock, prompting fears that rising property taxes could drive out longtime residents.
Despite the tragedy, residents expressed a determination to keep their community and heritage alive. But as the investigation continues, the collapse has left lingering trauma and renewed calls for better support and infrastructure on the island.
