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Boat Capsizes in Alafia River

Hillsborough Fire Rescue | Capsied Boat | Alafia River

No one was injured, according to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.

RIVERVIEW – Four boaters ended up in the Alafia River on Saturday (Sept. 3) when their boat capsized after hitting a branch, Hillsborough Fire Rescue said.

Fire Rescue received a call about 2:13 p.m. that a boat had capsized on the Alafia and the four occupants were all in the river. Firefighters and deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office went to the scene. Deputies were called to help search with their helicopter and a boat.

When crews arrived, two of the boaters were on dry land. The other two were missing. One of the missing boaters was unable to swim. While officials were searching, they were notified that one of the boaters had swum to a dock and walked to a house along the river.

Firefighters and deputies found the fourth boater in the water clinging to a tree limb in very strong currents. Deputies pulled the victim onto their boat and took the boater to a nearby boat ramp for medical evaluation. All four refused to go to a hospital.

The boaters said they were going up river fighting a strong current when they tried to turn around. At that time their boat struck a branch and overturned. None were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.

The boat was removed from the river and taken to a nearby boat ramp.

For information about Hillsborough Fire Rescue, go to hillsboroughcounty.org.

Photo of capsized boat courtesy of Hillsborough Fire Rescue.

Hillsborough Fire Rescue | Hillsborough Sheriff | Alafia River | Boat Capsized | TB Reporter

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