INDIAN RIVER INLET, Del. (WBOC/AP)- State fish and wildlife officials say nine people, including several children, escaped serious injury when their boat was swamped by heavy waves in the Indian River Inlet.
Authorities said six small children and an infant were among those who went into the water Sunday afternoon as their 21-foot open bow boat began sinking.
Officials credit the fact that all nine aboard were wearing life jackets to their successful rescue by passing boaters.
The accident and subsequent rescue occurred without serious injury, according to DNREC Fish & Wildlife Enforcement. One of the children was treated for a slight cut on his foot from the propeller of a rescuer boat as he was hauled aboard it. He was taken to Beebe Medical Center in Lewes where he was treated and released.
Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, a boating safety officer for DNREC, said it was important that everyone on the boat already was wearing life jackets when it began to take on water.
State law requires that children 12 and younger wear life jackets in any vessel on Delaware waters.
