Daisy Hicks, an 84-year-old witness to the tragic dock collapse in Georgia, shared her harrowing experience of the incident that claimed the lives of seven individuals. While waiting for a ferry, Hicks observed many victims relying on walkers and wheelchairs moments before the gangway gave way, sending them into the water below.

“I can still picture those people struggling in the water,” Hicks recounted, her voice laced with emotion. “I can hear their screams. I remember one woman frantically asking for blankets before the rescue teams arrived.”

Hicks, who was in Georgia with her senior travel club, reflected on the weight that the dock was bearing. “I think it was overloaded with all those walkers, wheelchairs, and people. It just went ‘bam’ and collapsed,” she said. “It was a day I never want to witness again.”

The dock was crowded with around 40 people waiting to take a ferry from Sapelo Island to the mainland when it suddenly fell apart. As a result, at least 20 individuals plunged into the water, which was filled with sharp oyster shells due to low tide, complicating rescue efforts. Tragically, seven elderly people, aged between 74 and 93, lost their lives that day. They were among the many visitors on Sapelo Island during an annual cultural festival celebrating the last Gullah Geechee community of Black descendants in the region.

At the time of the collapse, Hicks was part of a tour group that included Carlotta McIntosh, the oldest victim at 93 years old. “She was the heart of our club,” Hicks fondly remembered. “She’d be there with her walker, but she was always on the move.”

Atiyya Hassan, McIntosh’s granddaughter, expressed the family’s grief. “The shock hasn’t worn off yet,” she explained. “She was vibrant and independent, living alone and actively engaging the community, even registering thousands of voters.”

While reminiscing about her trip, Hicks noted that everything was going smoothly until disaster struck. “It’s hard to believe we’ve ended up in this situation. If that rail hadn’t failed, everyone would have made it back safely,” she reflected somberly.

In the wake of the tragedy, renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced he is representing the families of three victims and one hospitalized survivor. “The deaths and injuries from the Sapelo Island dock collapse are devastating for all involved,” Crump said in a statement. “We will not stop until we uncover the truth behind this catastrophic failure and ensure accountability for those responsible.”

He also emphasized the necessity for preventative measures to avert similar tragedies in the future, stating, “This should never have happened, and we must address the negligence that led to this horrific event.”