Overturned Boat Slams Into Redondo Beach Pier [VIDEO]

LOS ANGELES, CA — Four people are recovering after their sailboat overturned as it slammed into the Redondo Beach Pier Thursday evening.

As captured on video by bystanders, the four people are lucky to be alive after being tossed between the pier's pylons as their overturned boats slams into the pylons. The boat was eventually shattered by the impact with the pier.

The incident happened in Redondo Beach at about 7:15 p.m. Thursday, as the sailboat was buffeted by winds and choppy waters crashed. The crash sent visitors atop the pier fleeing for safety. Rescuers pulled four boaters from the water, with only minor injuries reported.

"When you come into the harbor between the break wall and between the pier itself you have to navigate through," said Division Chief Rob Rappaport of the Redondo Beach Fire Department told KTLA. "The waves and the wind pick up can push you right in if you don't get through right away."

According to Rappaport, two of the boaters were treated for mild hypothermia. Two others had some scrapes and bruises and one dislocated shoulder.

"There's quite a bit of force from the waves and the pilings certainly are not very forgiving," Rappaport added. "So they're certainly very lucky."

The three men and a woman, ranging in age from 20 to 50, had life jackets on as they had been out sailing in a boat race when the crash occurred.

Image: ABC Screengrab