A pair of stranded boaters, who were waiting for rescue after a boat accident off Florida, were not expecting the rescue vessel to be piloted by a drunk captain. That’s exactly what happened, when tow boat captain Timothy Pooler took a “detour” before his rescue mission.
Pooler had been dispatched on Thursday night to help the two boaters who were stuck off Delray Beach in Florida. However, instead of going directly to the distressed boaters, Pooler decided to take a four-hour diversion. By the time he reached the boaters, he was flying high as a kite.
He managed to somehow tow the disabled boat, and set off with the stranded boaters to the mainland. The boaters were horrified by the drunken captain’s behavior. He started going around in circles through the night. At some point, the boat ran out of gas.
By then, the two men had had enough. They went back to their boat, managed to start it, and then tried to tow Pooler and his boat back to shore. At some point, the two men decided to cut the towboat lose, and go it on their own. After some time, their boat broke down again. It took another towboat and other captain- this time, a sober one – to tow the disabled boat back to shore again.
Pooler’s towboat was rescued by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission vessel. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Pooler admitted to them that he had imbibed alcohol before he reported to work that day. He was also under the influence of medication.
This incident had a happy ending. Unfortunately, every year, hundreds of other boaters are not as lucky. They are killed or seriously injured in accidents that involve boaters who have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Remember – drinking and driving is just as unsafe on the water as it on land.
The maritime lawyers at Maintenance and Cure represent persons injured in boating accidents, offshore and commercial fishing vessel accidents and cruise line accidents across Texas.
