Ajit Karn
A couple on their honeymoon in Hawaii reported that a snorkelling company abandoned them in the ocean for over an hour, compelling them to swim back to shore.
Elizabeth Webster and her spouse, Alexander Burckle, went snorkelling on Lanai, a small island close to Maui, in September 2021, according to report. In a federal lawsuit filed last month, the couple described their harrowing experience. They were among the 44 passengers who embarked on Sail Maui’s Lanai Coast snorkel tour.
The couple alleged in their lawsuit that the commander informed everyone on board that the vessel would remain anchored for approximately one hour before proceeding to the next destination. The lawsuit states that throughout the excursion, passengers returned to the vessel at various periods. However, when the couple began to make their way back to the boat an hour later, the water became turbulent and they swam more aggressively towards the boat.
However, after approximately 15 minutes of swimming, the couple realised that “they had not yet reached the yacht.” “At approximately 12:20 p.m., after another 15 minutes (approximately) of aggressive swimming, the Vessel was visibly farther away from Plaintiffs than the previous time they had checked,” the lawsuit stated.
According to the New York Post, once the couple realised that the boat had departed, they attempted to stay afloat and sent out distress signals, but wound up in deeper, more turbulent water. According to their lawsuit, the pair “began to despair and had difficulty swimming in the ocean conditions.” According to the lawsuit, “they feared imminent drowning.”
Nonetheless, the couple was able to reach Lanai’s shore in the end. However, their dehydration and fatigue were noted in the lawsuit. They received assistance from an island resident who provided them with water and access to their phones.
Also read: Asks for forgiveness to Victims’ Relatives
Ms. Webster then contacted the snorkelling company and attempted to inform the crew that they had vanished during the tour, but a member of the crew purportedly informed her that they had returned safely. The lawsuit further alleged that the personnel undercounted the number of snorkelers who returned from their excursion. It was revealed that despite conducting three headcounts, the company failed to detect the absence of the two individuals until it was too late.
Elizabeth Webster and her husband, Alexander Burckle, are now suing Maui Sail Company for $5 million for negligence and emotional distress.
