Medical emergency diverts parade boat

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- For the first time in 28 years, the 98-foot-tall ship

Argus had to pull out of the Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade as it

was sailing toward the finish line because of a medical emergency on

board.

An 82-year-old passenger collapsed Wednesday night from a sudden

shortness of breath as the ship was moving toward the finish line,

officials said.

“We would have loved to finish, and people didn’t get to see us,” said

Bill Mountford, director of the Sea Scout Base that owns the boat. “But,

obviously, we had an emergency situation.”

The man, whose name was not released, suffered from emphysema, said

Sgt. Ron Peoples of the Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol stationed

in Newport Beach.

“People thought he was having a heart attack,” he said. “When we got

there, he had a strong pulse. We gave him oxygen.”

The man, who sat up after a while, refused further medical attention

and signed a release, Peoples said, adding that such emergencies are

common occurrences during public events.

Peoples said what was significant about this medical aid was that it

had to do with one of the two big ships in the parade -- the other being

the Osprey.

Mountford said he thought the six crew members and Capt. Fred

Bockmiller handled the situation well.

“All of our people are trained in first aid,” he said. “We’re

well-prepared to act in such situations.”

BOX

2000 CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE WINNERS

SWEEPSTAKES Unpretentious Too Geoff Landon

BEST POWER BOAT El Navigante Sasco Electric

BEST SAIL BOAT Elation Paul Gerst

BEST UNDER 30 FEET Trimaroon Neil Rousch

BEST MUSIC Huff n’ Puff Dave Thomas

BEST FIRST TIME Huff n’ Puff Dave Thomas

BEST CHARTER BOAT Spirit of Newport Bob and Cary Burns

BEST YACHT CLUB Unpretentious Too Geoff Landon

LIGHTS AND ANIMATION

First place Endeavor Ed Koll

Second place Endless Honeymoon Karen Thibodeau

Third place Argus Boy Scout Sea Base

HUMOR AND ORIGINALITY

First place Miss Francine Greg and Fran Ross

Second place Rascal Rick Swensson

Third place (No name provided) Dar Brenthel

CHRISTMAS THEME

First place Grouper Randy Ressel

Second place McKinna 57’ Kelly Nuttall

Third place Streak Andy Schmidt