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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 7:11 p.m., Friday, December 1, 2006

Catamaran accident witness gives first-hand account

Advertiser Staff

 

Emergency workers transport a victim of a catamaran accident to an awaiting ambulance at Kapiolani Park this evening.

JOAQUIN SIOPACK | The Honolulu Advertiser

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A Honolulu Fire Department helicopter transports a second victim of a catamaran accident to an ambulance waiting at Kapiolani Park this evening.

JOAQUIN SIOPACK | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Emergency workers at Kapiolani Park treat a woman injured in a catamaran accident. The victim was taken to Kapiolani Park by a helicopter, then driven by ambulance to a local hospital.

JOAQUIN SIOPACK | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Jamie Brandon, of Winnipeg, Canada, said he was aboard the Na Hoku II catamaran when the mast snapped and fell on a teenage boy, crushing him.

"Everything was going along smoothly; it was a fun time," Brandon said. "All of a sudden, the mast snapped in one place, maybe two, close to the top and maybe about halfway up. Cables were flying all over the place and gashed one person on the head."

Brandon said the trip was aboard a recreational rental cruise, and there were about 25 people aboard, including the boy's mother. He said the catamaran cruise started at 3:30 p.m. and the accident happened at about 5 p.m.

"Everyone was in quite a bit of shock," Brandon said.

He said the Coast Guard responded, along with other rescue crews "and they finally were able to get some sort of jack out there and lift the mast off the boy. No one could lift it."

EMS spokesman Bryan Cheplic said a teenager in extremely critical condition, a 41-year-old woman in critical condition and a 45-year-old woman in serious condition were taken to The Queen's Medical Center.

The teenager and the 41-year-old woman were airlifted off the Na Hoku II and taken to Kapi'olani Park, where they were put in ambulances and taken to Queen's.

The 45-year-old woman came into the boat harbor on the vessel and was then taken to Straub Clinic & Hospital, Cheplic said.