UPDATE – 3/15/22
The victim from Sunday’s horrible tragedy on Boca Inlet has been identified as 22-year-old Lindsay Partridge of Nashua, New Hampshire. The driver of the 23-foot vessel has been identified as 24-year-old Jacob Smith from Manchester, New Hampshire.
A spokesperson from FWC has provided Boca Post with the following statement:
“[the vessel] was traveling offshore approximately one quarter mile northeast of the Boca Inlet and 150 yards off-shore with two occupants on board. While the vessel was traveling north, a wave washed over the vessel. The victim (Lindsay Partridge) fell overboard and the occupant (Jacob Smith) attempted to maneuver the vessel to pick her up. The victim was brought to shore by the lifeguards at Boca Beach Club and was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The weather advisory indicated a small craft advisory for the area”
According to FWC’s accident report, the state attorney has been notified and an arrest may be pending. Also, investigators have indicated that the involvement of alcohol is currently ‘unknown’.
The report also states that there was a small craft advisory in effect in the area due to adverse weather at the time of the incident.
A GoFundMe for the family has been established, here.
ORIGINAL STORY – 3/13/22
BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) — Sources tell Boca Post that a woman has died after a single vessel boat accident in the Boca Inlet today.
Boca Raton Fire Rescue tells Boca Post that they responded to a water rescue near the Boca Inlet at 12:15 PM. The call originated because a 23-foot center console vessel carrying two people was navigating 6-8 foot swells while entering the inlet. A large wave was said to have thrown the female passenger overboard. The male driver then reportedly jumped into the water to rescue the passenger.
BRFR tells us that lifeguards from the Boca Beach club swam into the water and pulled both the passenger and the captain of the boat to the Beach Club shore of the Boca Inlet. The passenger was then transported by ground as a trauma alert to Delray Medical Center. Sources tell us that she did not survive. The boat captain did not sustain any injuries.
It is currently unclear if alcohol was a contributing factor in the accident. Our sources tell us that Boca Raton Police Department, as well as FWC, remained on the scene after rescue operations ceased.
Developing Story
This is a developing story. We will update you here with more information as it becomes available.
**SENSITIVE DETAILS REDACTED BY EDITOR**
People dont realize when they go in and out of the inlet they need to do so at certain times because of tide direction, strong currents and weather conditions. And a 23 ft center console boat is unstable in those conditions. Also, the business who rented the boat should have emphasized that fact. So stupid, so sad.
It’s so sad, I pray for the family. All boat renters specially if they are familiar with boats, should know to stay on the inlet even if weather conditions are good