One Fernandina Beach child died today as a result of a boating accident in Central Florida on Sunday.
Two other children from Central Florida died Sunday afternoon when the boat they were in on Lake George capsized during a thunderstorm, trapping them and four other people in the boat’s cabin, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Cole Bizuk, 5, of Fernandina Beach, died today, while Dennis Clayton Lennon, 4, of Umatilla, and Ciara N. Puskas, 14, of Eustis, were killed Sunday in the 5 p.m. accident on Lake George near Salt Springs in Lake County, according to the commission’s accident report. Umatilla and Eustis are just north of Orlando.
Cayla Bizuk, 7, of Fernandina Beach, was among those rescued.
When the storm began producing large waves, boat operator Dennis Todd Lennon, 37 of Umatilla, began to leave the lake. When Lennon turned the cutty cabin boat called Laguna to the left to avoid other boats, it took on waves, rolled over and capsized. Six people were trapped in the cabin. Rescuers turned the boat upright and got the people out of the cabin.
Dennis Todd Lennon and passenger Morgantina Garofono, 11 of Eustis, also weren’t injured. Passenger Ann Lennon, 36 of Umatilla, was injured, but is expected to make a full recovery.
All of the children, except Ciara Puskas, were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident, according to the report.
The adults weren’t wearing life jackets, Salberg said. He said there was no sign of alcohol, and officials weren’t sure yet how all of the passengers on the boat are related.