Maritime News

A 49-year-old tugboat worker is hospitalized after the tugboat he was working on was caught in an undertow in the Mississippi River in north St. Louis.

 
The accident occurred at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 1, 2010.

 
Dan Eilerman and another employee of Alberici Construction were linking two barges together when their tugboat was caught in the undertow. The undertow was strong enough to suck the tugboat beneath the platform. Eilerman was sucked under with the tug. The other man was able to jump from the boat to the barge platform.

 
Eilerman resurfaced about 150 feet from where the boat went down. He was rescued by two men with Humbolt Boat Service. 

 
Eilerman was conscious, but he was coughing up river water. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.  

 
Working on the water is always dangerous. Unexpected weather or currents can put workers in danger of injury or even death, so there are federal maritime laws that protect offshore workers’ rights and provide a safety net in case of injury.  It is important that offshore and river workers know their rights in case of injury. To learn more, call The Young Firm at 866-938-6113. 

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