A Maine doctor crushed to death when the mast of a sailboat broke has been pictured for the first time.
Dr. Emily Mecklenburg, 40, died after suffering a severe head wound aboard the Grace Bailey, a 150-year-old schooner.
The windjammer was returning from a four-day cruise with 33 people on board when one of its masts broke, striking Mecklenburg and three others.
A motorized rescue boat took Mecklenburg to a waiting rescue team on the shore, where she was pronounced dead.
Mecklenburg, who worked at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport, has since been considered a “well-known” and “popular” member of the community.
According to MaineHealth’s website, she specialized in internal medicine. A spokeswoman said her colleagues were “heartbroken,” the Boston Globe reported.
“Emily was a friend to so many and known for her compassionate care of patients,” MaineHealth said.
Dr. Emily Mecklenburg suffered a serious head injury when the mast broke
The Grace Bailey was returning from a four-day cruise when the incident occurred
Grace Bailey is co-owned by Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Marc Evan Jackson, Captain Sam Sikkema and Mainer Suzannah Smith
“Along with our community, we mourn Emily’s loss and send our thoughts and prayers to her family.”
Three other passengers also required medical attention, including a woman with serious spinal injuries.
They were joined by Charlie Weidman, 57, the owner of a boat towing company, who was heading to salvage a vessel that had broken down off the coast of Rockland when he heard a mayday noise.
In response, he heard Sam Sikkema, the captain of Grace Bailey, telling him that the boat’s mast had broken. The wind wasn’t particularly bad that day.
Weidman was first on the scene at 10:26 a.m., shortly after May Day, and found cardiopulmonary resuscitation being performed on a victim.
“People worked beyond their capacity, but they did a good job,” Wiedman said.
“Everyone was working to improve the situation.” It was almost a beehive. Everyone’s buzzing around, but it’s not evil. They just work.’
A nearby coast guard responded and began evacuating the injured passengers minutes after the catastrophic mast failure and collapse on the deck.
Grace Bailey is co-owned by Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Marc Evan Jackson as well as Captain Sikkema and Mainer Suzannah Smith.
After the mast broke early on the morning of October 9, officers on board quickly called the New England Command Center for assistance
Mecklenburg suffered a severe head wound and was taken by motorized lifeboat to a rescue team on the shore, but was pronounced dead at the scene
“My crew and I are devastated by this morning’s accident, especially as the safety of our guests is always our top priority,” Captain Sikkema told the Associated Press.
“Most importantly, we are heartbroken at the loss of a dear friend.”
Weidman towed the schooner to Rockland Harbor. Operators said they had no idea why the mast failed. The Coast Guard will conduct a full investigation into the incident.
Weidman said Sikkema would “take it harder than anyone except the poor woman’s family.”
“He just takes things to heart.” “He absolutely wants the best and doesn’t cut corners,” he added.
Capt. Amy Florentino, commander of the Coast Guard in northern New England, said the incident was a tragedy.
“At this time of grief, we extend our deepest condolences to the grieving family and sincerely wish those injured a speedy recovery,” she said.
“Our investigation aims to identify the causal factors that led to this tragic incident.”
The overall length of the Grace Bailey is 118 feet (36 m) and it can carry 29 passengers, according to its official website.
It was built in November 1882 by Oliver Perry Smith at his shipyard on the Patchogue River in Patchogue, New York.
According to the official website, Grace Bailey’s overall length is 118 feet (36 meters) and it can carry 29 passengers
The Grace Bailey was built in November 1882 by Oliver Perry Smith at his shipyard on the Patchogue River in Patchogue, New York
The early deck plan called for two cargo hatches between the masts and one between the mainmast and the aft deckhouse. The main mast was removed when the cargo ship became a cruising schooner
Currently a major tourist attraction in Maine, the Grace Bailey was originally built to meet the needs of the E. Bailey and Sons Lumber Company and transport lumber from southern ports to Patchogue.
The early deck plan called for two cargo hatches between the masts and one between the mainmast and the aft deck house. The main mast was removed when the cargo ship became a cruising schooner.
In 1940, the Grace Bailey, formerly known as MATTIE, was purchased by Captain Frank Swift of Camden, who used her as a passenger schooner.
Under Swift, the schooner became popular with passengers and crew alike. The ship took a brief break from her windjammer career in 1942 when she completed her wartime service as the Maine Maritime Academy’s first training ship.
After returning to the windjammer business, the schooner has outlasted all previous ships in its fleet. She served longer and carried more passengers than any other windjammer in history.