US Travel Agency Sued for 6.5 Billion Won After Leaving Snorkeling Tourists in the Sea

US Newlywed Couple Files Damage Claim Over Abandonment in Hawaiian Sea

A newlywed couple from the United States filed a $5 million (approximately 6.5 billion KRW) lawsuit against a local travel agency that abandoned them during a snorkeling tour.

According to the Washington Post and other sources on the 6th (local time), Alexander Burkle from California went on a honeymoon to Hawaii in September 2021 with his wife Elizabeth Webster. However, the couple was left stranded in the middle of the ocean due to the crew's mistake during a Lanai coast snorkeling tour operated by the travel agency 'Sail Maui.'

[Image source=Pixabay]

According to documents submitted to the court, the two set sail from Lahaina Harbor at 10 a.m. on the day of the incident with 42 passengers. They planned to enjoy snorkeling and return by boat around 3 p.m.

At that time, the captain stopped the boat in the middle of the ocean and informed the passengers that they would stay at that location for about an hour before sailing to the next spot. Afterwards, he allowed the passengers to enjoy snorkeling.

However, the couple claimed that the travel agency did not inform them exactly when they needed to return to the boat. They also said that the captain did not provide basic instructions on how to return to the boat or how to act in an emergency. Jared Washkowitz, the couple’s attorney, stated, "The travel agency did not specify how far they were allowed to snorkel."

During snorkeling, they noticed the boat leaving and swam continuously for 15 minutes but could not get back to the boat. In their complaint, the couple stated, "The waves were strong, and although we swam with all our might for 15 more minutes to return to the boat, it had moved farther away than when we last checked." This was around 12:20 p.m.

Another traveler who participated in the snorkeling told local media in an interview, "The crew’s process of counting passengers was not systematic," adding, "They counted and found two people missing but moved on to the second location anyway."

The couple realized the boat had left them behind and swam about 1.6 km to the shore of Lanai Island to survive. They barely reached the beach around 1 p.m. in an exhausted state and were able to return with the help of island residents.

They said, "During the safety briefing, we were told there were shallow reefs near Lanai Island and not to swim in that direction," and "There was a lot of concern about our decision to head for the beach." The couple is seeking compensation for all losses and emotional distress they suffered.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.