PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A family of six had spent an hour enjoying Clearwater Beach and they were headed back home on the Clearwater Ferry’s return trip when the recreational boat crashed into them.
Steven Whitehurst, 58, is still managing pain from his injuries, but says he’s thankful that his wife, adult children and his 11-year-old granddaughter are all home safe.
What You Need To Know
- One of the injury victims in Sunday's ferry crash is speaking out about his injuries and the moments after the crash
- Steven Whitehurst, 58, is still managing pain from his injuries
- “Lots of screaming,” Whitehurst said of the chaotic moments after the boat struck the ferry
- RELATED: Officials release video of Clearwater ferry crash, identify man killed
The husband and father suffered a deep gash in his leg that he says reached the bone.
He’ll be in a splint and on crutches while it heals.
Both Whitehurst and his 37-year-old son were hurt in the crash, but he was still able to help others and offer comfort until first responders arrived.
“Lots of screaming,” Whitehurst said of the chaotic moments after the boat struck the ferry. “Which, I think that’s what fueled me a little bit, but everybody was helping everybody. It wasn’t just me, you know.
“Everybody helped everybody, and like I was saying earlier, everybody came together like a team on the boat, you know, it wasn’t these are my people. You know, you help your people. It was like, what do you need over there?”
Whitehurst said he believes 25 years of martial arts training is what helped him work through the pain he was experiencing until first responders arrived.
Doctors are still evaluating his injuries.