PHOTOS: Four people swim safely to shore after boat sinks in Prince George

Sep 7, 2025 - 16:25

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PHOTOS: Four people swim safely to shore after boat sinks in Prince George

PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Four people swam safely to shore on Saturday after their boat began sinking in the James River in Prince George County.

At 1:36 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, Prince George Fire and EMS, along with multiple partner agencies, responded to a report of a boat taking on water about one mile south of the Benjamin Harrison Bridge on the James River.

The four people aboard were able to swim to shore, and there were no reported injuries, fire officials said.

According to a police spokesperson, a pontoon boat was near the the Charles City side of the James River.

Prince George County Fire & EMS, Prince George County Police, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Hopewell Fire/EMS and Chesterfield Fire & EMS also assisted in the response, according to Prince George Fire and EMS officials.

Boat incident on the James River in Prince George on Sept. 7. (Photo: Prince George Fire and EMS)

Hopewell Fire/EMS deployed a drone to help locate the sinking vessel and the four occupants

Fire officials said all four passengers were taken back to Jordan Point.

"This response demonstrated the strength of collaboration and teamwork across jurisdictions. The combined efforts of Fire/EMS, Police, and Wildlife officials ensured that all four individuals were located safely, turning what could have been a dangerous emergency into a positive outcome," crews with Prince George Fire and EMS said.

Earlier Saturday afternoon, at around 1 p.m., a watercraft operator was injured after his jet ski flipped and he hit a wave in Prince George County. Emergency personnel responded to this incident and he was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.