Authorities are searching for a boater who struck a diver and fled the scene in a hit-and-run off of Fort Lauderdale over the weekend that left the diver hospitalized.
The hit-and-run happened around 2 p.m. Saturday in the ocean about two miles offshore of Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said. FWC officials initially said it had happened off Oakland Park but on Tuesday said it happened off of Fort Lauderdale.
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WATCH HEREThe diver, an adult male, was in the water when he was struck by a boat that didn't stop, officials said.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue spokesman said the victim was out diving in about 60 feet of water and was hit by the passing boat as he surfaced.
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The diver was taken to a local hospital for treatment. His identity and exact condition were unknown but officials said he suffered a bad wound to his leg.
“He had a very severe wound on his leg about six inches deep and almost down to the bone and so there was a lot of bleeding," Guzman said. "It was a community effort to save this man’s life. The actions by his friend on the boat who beached him right away. The people on the beach who applied the tourniquet and called 911 and our quick response saved his life."
Witness Chris Byrnes said he saw a boat carrying the victim land on the beach before the diver was taken away for treatment.
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"I saw that the man on the ground had a big gaping wound. I initially thought it was a shark bite and I asked what happened and they said he got run over by a boat," Byrnes said. "They came down on the beach and they put a tourniquet on his leg and they carried him out quickly. The guy was conscious. He wasn’t bleeding a lot but the wound that he had on the back of his leg was really bad. He was concerned and asking if he was going to lose his leg."
Byrnes said he briefly spoke with the people who'd been with the diver.
“They said that the boat rode over him and just kept going. I really hope that they find that guy. People and their boats need to look out. The guy that was in the water had a dive flag with him, so whoever was driving the boat clearly was not paying attention at all," Byrnes said. “They saw the boat coming toward them and they knew their friend was in the water diving. They were signaling to the guy and yelling and waving their arms, but the guy driving the boat they said, he just looked at them, did not slow down and just kept going, drove over their friend and did not stop. Just keep going.”
The boat that hit the man was described as a white center console with outboard motors that's possibly 30 to 40 feet long. It was last seen heading northbound with two occupants on board.
Anyone with information is asked to call the FWC at 888-404-FWCC.
