FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – A gangway that suddenly broke during the Fernandina Beach fireworks display for Independence Day left people hurt on Friday night.
According to the City of Fernandina Beach, the gangway at the Fernandina Beach Harbor Marina near the Bretts Waterway Café collapsed during the fireworks display, leaving several people with minor injuries.
The injured people were treated at the scene, and no one was taken to the hospital, Fernandina Beach police said.
It’s unclear how many people were injured at this time.
Michael Belfort, a man who fell into the water, said the water was about waist-deep. Moments before the collapse happened, he said he heard creaking sounds coming from the bridge.
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Carolyn Hopkins was visiting the area with her daughter and other family members when they found themselves mixed in the aftermath.
Hopkins said she saw a panicked crowd running and screaming. At first, she thought it was a shooting, but later learned the gangway had collapsed.
“It was terrifying,” she told News4JAX. “I didn’t know what was happening at first.”
Though she did not see the collapse, she did notice the gangway was crowded with spectators.
“I think it was a weight issue. There was a lot of people,” she said.
Officials have not provided any updates on what caused the gangway to fail.
Hopkins’ daughter, Sophia, was also safe, but still shocked.
“I was overstimulated and overheated,” Sophia Hopkins said. “I just didn’t know what was going on.”
Rebecca Walker was on a boat watching the fireworks with friends when the collapse happened just feet away from her.
The video showed Walker recording the fireworks when sudden outbursts of screams and loud crashing and cracking noises erupted, prompting her to pan the camera to the left.
The gangway had snapped in half, with its middle section submerged in the water. Spectators could be seen walking off the broken gangway.