A gangway at the Fernandina Beach Harbor Marina collapsed Friday night during the Independence Day fireworks display, sparking panic and injuring several spectators.
The incident occurred near Bretts Waterway Café, where a large crowd had gathered to watch the show.
According to the City of Fernandina Beach, multiple people suffered minor injuries when the straining gangway suddenly gave way.
Emergency responders treated the injured on the scene. Police confirmed that no one was taken to the hospital.
Video posted on social media shows the structure breaking in half as spectators screamed and ran to safety.
Michael Belfort, one of the bystanders who fell into the water, told News4Jax that the depth was about waist-high. He recalled hearing creaking noises coming from the gangway just moments before it collapsed.
Carolyn Hopkins, visiting with her family, described a moment of chaos and confusion.
Her daughter, Sophia Hopkins, said she was overwhelmed and overheated by the crowd and noise, adding to the pandemonium. At first, she thought there had been a shooting.
Hopkins noted that the gangway appeared overcrowded and suspected the collapse might have been due to excessive weight. “There were a lot of people on it,” she told the outlet.
Rebecca Walker, who was watching the fireworks from a nearby boat, captured the collapse on video.
The footage shows the gangway breaking in half, with the middle portion sinking into the water. Screams and the sound of the structure snapping can be heard as spectators scramble to safety.
Officials have not yet determined the cause of the collapse.
