A day at the fishing pier turned into an emergency trip to the hospital for a 14-year-old boy after a drone-related incident at Dania Beach Fishing Pier. According to WSVN, the teen was injured yesterday morning when he was struck by the propeller blades of his fishing drone, an activity prohibited on the pier.
Broward Sheriff's Office deputies arrived to find the young boy suffering from multiple lacerations around 9 a.m., having been cut badly by the drone as he tried to fly it back to himself. Despite posted signs clearly marking the ban of drones, the boy, who was visiting from out of town, decided to sneak the drone under his cooler and proceed to use it on the pier. A bystander, identified as James, recounted to WSVN that they had warned the teen not to fly the drone but eventually "just let him do what he wanted to do."
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue paramedics transported the injured teen to a nearby hospital with injuries that, while severe, were not life-threatening. James who was there to simply enjoy a day of fishing, gave an impromptu recount of the incident, "He basically tore his wrist and finger up," he told WSVN. James also helped to staunch the bleeding until emergency services could take over.
While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet issued a statement on this specific incident, they have been clear about their stance on unauthorized drone operations. "Drone operators who conduct unsafe operations that endanger other aircraft or people on the ground could face fines that exceed $30,000," the FAA has previously warned, an investigation no doubt to probably follow given the circumstances at the pier, as reported by WSVN. The local community is now grappling with the risks that come with irresponsible drone use, and the dangers these seemingly innocuous devices can pose to the unwary.
The status of any charges or penalties remains undetermined, but FAA regulations suggest consequences could be severe for the teen's actions. According to a NBC Miami report, it will be the FAA who determines whether the teen faces any repercussions for his use of the drone on prohibited grounds.
