JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Regina Brinson experienced a harrowing moment when a metal walkway collapsed at the ferry dock on Georgia’s Sapelo Island, sending her plunging into the waters below. As strong currents swept her away, she urgently called for her 79-year-old uncle, Isaiah Thomas, to grab her hand.
Thomas attempted to take hold of Brinson, inadvertently pulling her shirt and dragging her under the water’s surface. In a emotional recollection of the incident, Brinson detailed her desperate fight for survival, stating, “I had to take his fingers, one-by-one, and peel them off of my shirt.” She managed to pull him back up, only to realize the tragedy of the moment.
This accident resulted in the death of seven individuals, all of whom were standing on the gangway waiting to board a ferry during a fall festival that celebrated the local Gullah-Geechee community. The dock, built in 2021, failed under the weight of dozens of passengers.
Brinson joined grieving family members of the other victims at a press conference in Jacksonville, where a civil rights attorney called for a U.S. Justice Department investigation into the incident. Local authorities, including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, have begun their own inquiry into the collapse.
The victims, aged between 73 and 93, were remembered by family members as active, vibrant individuals who did not die from natural causes but rather from negligence, according to the attorney.
Despite its natural beauty and historical significance, Sapelo Island faces challenges as only a handful of residents remain, with many having relocated for jobs on the mainland. These remaining residents have been engaged in legal battles over property rights and local government issues while fighting for more resources.
The Cultural Day festival at the island was intended to be a celebration, featuring local food and crafts, but the tragedy turned a day of joy into one of mourning. Among the victims was 93-year-old Carlotta McIntosh, remembered as an active and spirited woman who lived life fully.
The other victims included members of the Jacksonville senior club, all of whom had come to enjoy the festival and take part in community activities. Investigators are now working to determine the cause of the gangway failure, with a focus on engineering and safety standards.
In an alarming turn of events, previous lawsuits concerning the dock’s accessibility and emergency resources have raised questions about whether adequate safety measures were in place to protect island visitors. The lack of medical facilities on the island further complicates emergency response efforts, as highlighted by the tragic incident’s aftermath.
