V1 was swamped in rough seas by the beach.
On March 2, 2023, at approximately 1530 hours Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, was dispatched to St. Andrews State Park in reference to a boating accident. LT 1 arrived onscene before me and located the vessel near the jetties. It was relayed that all subjects were accounted for and that the vessel sank (had grounded) as a result of swamping. None of the four subjects aboard the vessel were injured and all of them had made it to shore. Upon my arrival onscene, I joined LT 1 and the listed occupants near the vessel where SeaTow was actively trying to recover the vessel. LT 1 provided me with photographs of the sunken vessel and showed me a video that a bystander had taken of the actual accident. In the video, I observed the following:
	The subjects exited St. Andrews Pass to rounding the south end of the west jetty. They motored to the surf zone, where the sea conditions were rough. Seas conditions were documented as 5-7 feet this day, which would be hazardous for the listed vessel. Upon entering the surf zone multiple waves began to come into the boat. It appeared as though the motor stalled and shut off at least one time before secondary, large waves came over the starboard and stern of the vessel causing it to sink and eventually ground. All the subjects subsequently exited the vessel and approached land in the shallow surf.
	I spoke to the owner and operator for the vessel listed in this report who advised me that they had planned to pull the boat up to or near the beach while other individuals in their party were waiting on shore. He advised that he attempted to motor out of the rough surf but it was too late. The operator advised me that the vessel was insured. He advised that he had less than approximately 20 hours operating the vessel and had owned no other vessels in his life. 
	LT 1 and I gathered information for the listed occupants. I advised the operator that I would be in contact when he located his insurance information. I attempted to phone him the following day and was not able to reach him.
	The primary cause of this accident was operator inexperience coupled with contributing factors of weather and sea conditions. Given the sea conditions present this day, the operator motoring in the pass and toward the scene of the accident should have known that the seas were too rough for the size and low stern construction of his vessel.

GULF OF MEXICO
PANAMA CITY                   