Sources: 2 airlifted following serious injuries at popular boating event in Barnegat Bay
News 12 has confirmed the two most serious injuries involved a propeller strike to the leg in one case. The other involved a stomach injury caused by a propeller.
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Two people were airlifted Saturday with severe injuries from the annual Floats & Boats summer event on the Barnegat Bay, sources told News 12.
News 12 has confirmed the two most serious injuries involved a propeller strike to the leg and a stomach injury also caused by a propeller. One victim was flown to a trauma unit in Atlantic City. The other was flown to Jersey Shore in Neptune.
Thousands of people typically take part in Floats & Boats near Island Beach State Park in Lacey Township. The event was promoted on a variety of social media outlets.
Sources told News 12 the event was packed this year with at least 2,000 boats and creative inflatables at Tices Shoal, an area in the Barnegat Bay several miles south of the Island Beach State Park entrance. This region is only accessible by water.
Many locals told News 12 they enjoy Floats & Boats and it's great for families. They say they're concerned if the event continues to grow (and at times gets out of hand), they may lose their mid-summer tradition.
News 12 is still waiting to hear updates on the condition of the two people injured and reached out to the Department of Environmental Protection who directed questions to the Ocean County Sheriff's Department. News 12 also reached out to the New Jersey State Police marine unit for more details.
