MCINTOSH COUNTY, Ga. — First Coast News is learning more about a gangway collapse that took the lives of seven people and left others injured on Sapelo Island in Georgia over the weekend.
Officials said that the victims all traveled to Sapelo Island for the annual cultural festival, celebrating the Gullah-Geechee community.
The accident happened on Saturday, when a gangway at the Marsh Landing Dock on Sapelo Island collapsed, plunging people into the water below. Officials estimate 20 people went into the water when the gangway collapsed.
Officials said the initial findings of the investigation show a "catastrophic failure" with the gangway, which was later called "structural."
Four of the victims were from Jacksonville, the others from Georgia.
Cynthia Gibbs, 74, was a member of the Impact Church in Jacksonville.
Cynthia Gibbs
The church shared the following statement on her passing:
"Cynthia Gibbs will be remembered well by her Impact Church family. She has been a loved, appreciated, faithful part of the Impact for over 15 years. Throughout that time, her love for God has been consistently evident, as has her passion for serving Him through her dedicated service to her church and her community. Cynthia was always ready to lend a helping hand, quick with a funny quip, full of energy, and so consistent that we maintained a staff workspace for her in our ministry offices. We are stunned at the sudden circumstance of her transition and will greatly miss her. We are, however, comforted by the knowledge that we will see her again in Heaven. We continue to pray for her loved ones and for all those who have been touched by the tragedy in Sapelo Island, Georgia."
Another woman killed in the collapse was 93-year-old Carlotta McIntosh of Jacksonville. Her granddaughter shared her photo with First Coast News.
Carlotta McIntosh
The Georgia Department of Public Safety released photos of 77-year-old Dr. Charles Houston, a chaplain from Darien, Georgia who served with the department. He leaves behind a wife and two children.
Charles Houston
At a press conference over the weekend, state officials also talked about his service to the community.
“We did lose a dear friend, Mr. Charles Houston he served as a DNR, Georgia state patrol and GBI Chaplin for the state," said Walter Rabon, a commissioner with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
RELATED: Victim in Sapelo Island gangway collapse was Georgia chaplain who showed 'compassion to everyone'
The following four individuals were also killed in the collapse:
- Jacqueline Crews Carter, 75, Jacksonville
- William Johnson, Jr., 73, Atlanta
- Isaiah Thomas, 79, Jacksonville
- Queen Welch, 76, Atlanta
Local boat captain recounts saving 2-month-old baby
First Coast News learning more about those injured in the collapse.
JR Grovner is a local boat captain and was finishing a tour when the collapse happened. He got in his boat and soon discovered that his Goddaughter and her two-month-old baby had fallen into the water.
"They stopped me and asked me about rushing the baby off the island to the ambulance because they were afraid that the baby wouldn't get medical attention fast enough," said Grovner. "She hollered, 'God daddy my baby, my baby.' We took the two-month-old, we took the dad and her and we got on the boat."
He said the baby was not injured and was doing OK. His Goddaughter fractured her knee but was treated and is also doing well.
"You know, people kept calling me and saying 'Oh you're a hero.' I say I'm not a hero, there were a lot of heroes on that dock that day, we're sorry that it happened, seven people lost their lives, but it could have been a lot worse," Grovner said.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources released an update Monday that the gangway had been transported to a secure facility.
Now, the department’s Critical Incident Reconstruction Team will begin its investigation to determine the cause of the catastrophic structural failure of the gangway.