New concerns after kids seen jumping off abandoned boat in Bimini Basin

Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:
Kids climbing on derelict boat in Bimini Basin.

Kids that were seen jumping off the side of a tipped-over boat in Bimini Basin are renewing safety concerns about abandoned boats.

WINK News has been telling you about the derelict sailboat in Bimini Basin since March. People who live in the area want the city to remove it.

MORE: Neighbors annoyed by boat stuck in Cape Coral canal

The woman who saw the kids climbing on the boat says that this is no longer an issue of money, this is officially an issue of safety.

“As a grandparent or parent, I’m concerned,” said Judi Thomas, of Cape Coral.

Thomas and Don Spurr saw the kids jumping from the mast and decided to film it. They decided to put a stop to it before something went wrong.

“I immediately called the police,” said Spurr.

He said he called Cape Coral police after remembering what he saw on WINK News.

“Like in one of your broadcasts. With the drone. It was two feet of water on one side of that boat. If they went the wrong way, and they fell and slid down one of them it could cut an artery or, you know, they could get seriously hurt up there,” said Spurr.

Their video shows a group of kids climbing up the mast of the sunken, tipped-over sailboat in Bimini Basin and jumping off.

To Thomas, the boat is an eyesore, but after seeing the kids jumping from it, she is worried about the risks it poses.

In a statement to WINK News last week, Cape Coral police said this boat was not a threat to the public.

“It is a threat, especially what we saw yesterday,” said Spurr.

Cape Coral police say it will take thousands of dollars and several months to remove the boat from the basin.

RELATED: Lengthy process ahead to remove derelict boat from Bimini Basin

“Why did they just leave it there? Why did they bring it out knowing that it could possibly get loose again, they didn’t have an anchor, they didn’t have the proper rope. They found an anchor and they just use a nylon rope and it wasn’t secure. So why do that?” said Thomas.

That is why the people who live in Sunnybrook have a meeting at city hall scheduled for Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. They plan to ask a detailed list of questions to the Cape Coral police and others.

WINK News reached out to Cape Coral police about the kids climbing on the boat but did not hear back.

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