Boat day nearly ends in ‘tragedy,’ but strangers step in, Virginia officials say
Two boaters rescued four people — three adults and one teen — from a river in Virginia when their vessel started sinking, officials said.
“Without them, this could have ended in tragedy,” the Newport News Fire Department said in a June 24 news release. “We are deeply grateful for their bravery.”
The fire department responded to the sinking boat at about 9 a.m. June 24 and learned that everyone on the boat had made it out safely and was heading toward the shore, officials said.
At about 10 a.m., rescuers met a private boat with the four people from the sinking vessel at a ramp, according to officials.
One person needed emergency medical assistance and was taken to a hospital, the fire department said. No one else was injured.
The two men on the private boat — Waverly Tillar and Tron Greene — “heroically” helped the group when they noticed their boat sinking, officials said.
“They acted without hesitation — pulling all four people from the water,” officials said.
Newport News is about a 70-mile drive southeast from Richmond.
This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Boat day nearly ends in ‘tragedy,’ but strangers step in, Virginia officials say."
