A devastating dock collapse on historic Sapelo Island claimed the lives of seven people and injured several others on Saturday afternoon, during the island’s annual Cultural Day. The tragic event was attributed to a sudden and catastrophic failure of a gangway leading to a ferry, plunging over a dozen festival-goers into murky waters. The island, known for celebrating its rich Gullah Geechee heritage, now faces the grim aftermath of the disaster.
The Collapse and Immediate Response
According to Walter Rabon, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the collapse occurred just as attendees were preparing to board a ferry. Rabon, in a briefing on Sunday, confirmed that three people remained in critical condition, and a chaplain for the agency was among those who perished.
“I want to thank those who were on the scene as the tragedy unfolded and jumped into action,” Rabon said. “Their quick response and action saved additional lives yesterday afternoon.”
The festival, held annually to honor the island's Gullah Geechee heritage, quickly turned into a desperate scene of survival. The Saltwater Geechee of Sapelo Island are direct descendants of West Africans who were brought to the area for their expertise in rice and indigo cultivation during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Many of the festival-goers, who had come to celebrate this rich cultural legacy, found themselves caught in the chaos of the collapse.
The Incident: What Went Wrong?
The gangway, built just three years ago, was expected to support the crowd. However, the structure gave way under the weight of an estimated 40 people, plunging around 20 into the water below. As of Sunday, it remains unclear what specifically caused the gangway to fail, but a reconstruction team is working with engineers to determine the exact cause.
One of the survivors, photographer Teake Zuidema from Savannah, described the horrifying moment the gangway gave way. “I think I took about three steps, and then all of a sudden, the whole world around me fell, and people were screaming and yelling,” he said.
Zuidema was fortunate enough to pull himself up using a railing but described the slippery gangway and the chaos of others falling back into the water, pulling people down with them. “It was really pandemonium,” he said. “It was really horrific.”
Desperate Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the collapse, rescue operations were launched by the Coast Guard, who deployed helicopters and boats equipped with sonar to search for survivors. Sapelo Island, located approximately 60 miles south of Savannah, is only accessible by boat, making the rescue mission even more challenging. The state-run ferry from Meridian, a small coastal town on the mainland, takes about 20 minutes to reach the island.
Zuidema recounted watching helplessly as people were swept away by the current, unable to save them. "I saw people giving CPR to others who were lying there unconscious. And then I realized that I saw people dying in front of my eyes,” he recalled.
Heartbreak and Survivor's Remorse
Festival-goers who had traveled to Sapelo Island for the Cultural Day celebration were left in shock and grief. Hermina Glass-Hill, a witness who was behind the bus that dropped off the passengers on the gangway, described the scene after the collapse.
“We saw people wrapped in insulated bags to keep them warm, and people being carried by first responders and local people,” she said. Glass-Hill, who works in Midway, Georgia, expressed her sorrow over how a joyous celebration of Gullah Geechee culture had ended so tragically.
In a heartbreaking moment, she recounted meeting a woman and her daughters who had been part of the festival earlier in the day. One of the daughters had witnessed a drowning and was deeply traumatized. "She kept screaming, ‘If I could have saved them! If I could have saved them!’" Glass-Hill said, her voice heavy with emotion. “They were supposed to go back to college on Monday, and now they have survivor’s remorse.”
Questions About Safety and Accountability
While the exact cause of the gangway collapse remains unknown, questions are already being raised about safety measures and who is responsible for ensuring the structure was sound. Rabon acknowledged that he did not know the gangway’s capacity but had been told it should have been able to handle Saturday's crowd.
Glass-Hill also voiced concerns about accountability, pointing out that Sapelo Island and the Gullah Geechee community already face significant social and political challenges. Despite being part of the congressionally designated Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, the community grapples with issues such as rising seas and development pressures.
A Community in Mourning
The island is home to about 70 full-time residents, many of whom are descendants of the enslaved people who worked the plantations of Sapelo. Although none of the island’s residents were among the fatalities, the tragedy has deeply impacted the entire community.
As investigations continue, Sapelo Island and its visitors are left to mourn the loss of life and reflect on the fragility of safety at such a historic and culturally significant location.