7 Seniors Dead After Gangway Collapses at Sapelo Island Festival \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A tragic accident unfolded on Sapelo Island when a ferry gangway collapsed, sending about 20 people into the water and killing seven seniors. Visitors attending a festival celebrating the island’s Gullah-Geechee heritage were plunged into a tidal current, prompting frantic rescue efforts by bystanders. Investigators are looking into the cause of the collapse, which occurred while about 40 people stood on the gangway. The small, historically significant community is in mourning after one of its most tragic events in recent history.
Sapelo Island Gangway Collapse: Quick Looks
- Fatal Gangway Collapse: Seven seniors were killed when a gangway collapsed at Sapelo Island, Georgia, during a fall festival. Many were plunged into the water while waiting to board a ferry.
- Rapid Rescue Efforts: Bystanders immediately jumped into action, attempting to rescue those caught in the tidal current, with limited EMS presence initially available.
- Historical Setting: The collapse occurred at an event celebrating the Gullah-Geechee heritage of Hogg Hummock, a small, historic African American community on the island.
- Ongoing Investigation: Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse. The ferry dock and gangway, rebuilt in 2021, had passed inspection in December 2023.
Deep Look:
A festival meant to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Georgia’s Sapelo Island ended in tragedy when a ferry dock gangway collapsed, sending dozens of visitors into the water and claiming the lives of seven seniors. The catastrophic failure occurred on Saturday as hundreds of visitors attended the Cultural Day festival in Hogg Hummock, a small, historic Gullah-Geechee community on the isolated barrier island. With the island only accessible by boat, many visitors were on the gangway waiting to board a ferry back to the mainland when disaster struck.
Eyewitnesses described a chilling scene as the metal gangway, creaking under the weight of around 40 people, snapped in the middle, throwing about 20 of them into the water. “There was no time for anyone to get off,” said Icy White, an attendee who was standing just 30 feet away when the gangway collapsed. “It took seconds.”
White’s family, like many others, had come to the island to enjoy the festival, which showcases the unique history, culture, and traditions of the island’s Gullah-Geechee community—descendants of enslaved Africans who settled the area after the Civil War. However, what was meant to be a day of celebration quickly turned into a frantic rescue effort as bystanders jumped into the water to save those struggling to stay afloat.
In a video White recorded and shared with The Associated Press, chaos unfolded as people clung to the broken railing, dangling precariously over the water. Some were partially submerged while others were swept away by a strong tidal current, drifting dangerously out to sea. White’s video captures her running toward the parking lot, shouting for help, “Who can help? Who can swim? Please, help! Help! Help! The bridge fell! People are in the water!”
With limited emergency services on hand due to the island’s remote location, visitors and locals became the first responders. “There was no EMS that was there,” said Darrel Jenkins, White’s cousin. “We were the EMS.” Bystanders quickly worked together, pulling people from the water, throwing life preservers, and performing CPR on those who were unresponsive. One video clip shows volunteers performing chest compressions on someone sprawled on the muddy ground, while others improvised stretchers out of blankets to carry the injured to safety.
Despite these valiant efforts, seven people, all seniors ranging in age from 73 to 93, lost their lives. McIntosh County Coroner Melvin Amerson identified the victims as Charles L. Houston, 77, a chaplain for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, William Johnson Jr., 73, and Queen Welch, 76, all of Atlanta, and four individuals from Jacksonville, Florida: Crews Carter, 75; Cynthia Gibbs, 74; Carlotta McIntosh, 93; and Isaiah Thomas, 79.
The ferry dock gangway, rebuilt in 2021, had been inspected as recently as December 2023, with no reported issues. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which operates the ferry service to Sapelo Island, confirmed that about 40 people were standing on the gangway when it gave way. The broken structure has since been removed and taken to a secured facility, where investigators will examine it as part of an inquiry into what caused the collapse.
Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon commended the quick actions of civilians who rushed to help those in the water, noting that their rapid response likely saved additional lives. However, Rabon acknowledged that the island’s remote location presented significant challenges. Sapelo Island, located off Georgia’s southeastern coast, has no bridges or roads connecting it to the mainland. Residents and visitors rely on ferries to make the 7-mile journey across the water.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, questions remain about the structural integrity of the gangway and whether it was designed to hold the weight of so many people. The collapse has sent shockwaves through the Gullah-Geechee community of Hogg Hummock, where the annual Cultural Day festival is one of the most anticipated events of the year.
Hogg Hummock, also known as Hog Hammock, is one of the last surviving Gullah-Geechee communities on the Georgia coast. The residents are descendants of enslaved Africans who worked the island’s plantations, and many families have lived on the island for generations. The community is known for retaining its African cultural heritage, including its distinct dialect, traditional cast-net fishing, and basket weaving.
The island’s population has dwindled in recent years, with many families forced to sell their land due to rising property taxes and economic pressures. In 1996, Hogg Hummock was placed on the National Register of Historic Places to help preserve its unique cultural legacy. However, recent zoning changes that allow for larger homes have raised concerns among residents that outsiders could buy up land for vacation homes, accelerating the displacement of long-time islanders.
The tragedy has brought even more attention to the island, as both the local community and the wider public grieve the loss of life. For a community already fighting to preserve its history and way of life, the disaster represents a significant blow.
As the investigation continues, residents and visitors alike are left grappling with the devastating outcome of what was supposed to be a joyful celebration. The seven victims, none of whom were island residents or related to the local community, had come to Sapelo Island to enjoy its cultural richness, but instead met a heartbreaking end. Their deaths serve as a painful reminder of the fragility of life and the dangers that can arise in unexpected moments.
With the gangway collapse now under investigation by a team of experts in accident reconstruction and engineering, the community hopes for answers. For the time being, however, the people of Sapelo Island—and the larger Gullah-Geechee community—are left to mourn the lives lost in a tragedy that will not soon be forgotten.
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