Mom Who Lost Child, Officials Urge Boating Safety: 'It's Mayhem'

LONG ISLAND, NY — Just in time for Labor Day weekend, officials, as well as a mother who lost her daughter in a boating accident in 2005, are speaking out to advocate for education and to announce a crackdown on boating while intoxicated over the holiday.

For Gina Lieneck of Deer Park, the memories of that day her world shattered are always just a heartbeat way: In 2005, her daughter Brianna, 11, was killed in a boating accident.

On January 1, after years of advocating tirelessly, Lieneck saw legislation in her daughter's name signed into law. "Brianna's Law" requires phased-in requirements that all operators of motorized watercraft must complete state-approved boating safety courses.

And with Labor Day approaching, Lieneck said the need for education remains critical.

"There are so many more boats out on the waterways now due to coronavirus that it’s mayhem on the water," she said. "We’ve already lost a few lives in the past few weeks. I want to stress that people need to take the course."

Lieneck added: "There’s nothing quite like spending the day on your boat with family and friends. Just be sure safety is foremost in your mind. From must-have safety gear to how to safely operate a boat. We all hear about boating safety until the message becomes boring."

But that message, she said, can't be conveyed often enough.

Boating safety, she said, needs to be forefront in everyone's minds as they head out onto the water. "Boating can be a relaxing pastime or a dangerous sport. Boating safety education will save lives."

Safety is critical, Lieneck said: "While fishing, tubing and jet-skiing are only a few of the many things that Long Islanders have the opportunity to enjoy over the summer, it is easy to get wrapped up in all the fun and amusement and forget about how dangerous these activities can be. There are plenty of good reasons to be an educated boat operator," she said.

Lieneck cited sobering statistics: According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 77 percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator did not receive a boating safety certificate, she said.

"The good news, though, is that saving lives and reducing injuries can be as easy as taking a boater safety course. That way, you familiarize yourself with operation basics and etiquette, as well as state and federal waterway rules," she said.

Drinking and boating don't mix, she added. "If you are drinking make sure you have a designated driver who has experience and can operate a boat," she said. "Make sure to know and understand all the regulations of the Long Island waters, watch your speed, and beware of other boaters around you. If you can prevent one death, you are doing it right."

And in the summer like no other, Lieneck said the need for caution is even greater. "This summer, there are a lot more boaters on our waterways due to coronavirus. Having more inexperienced boaters on our waterways has made it more dangerous to navigate. Everyone needs to be educated. There have been too many lives already lost this summer."

BWI, DWI crackdown

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart also announced increased driving and boating while intoxicated enforcement efforts to keep county residents safe during Labor Day weekend.

Suffolk County Police officers from the highway patrol, motorcycle section, selective alcohol fatality enforcement section and marine bureau, in addition to precinct-level patrols, will take a zero-tolerance approach to anyone driving or boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol and will saturate Suffolk County roadways and waterways, the lawmakers said.

During the 2019 Labor Day weekend, 42 people were arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, they said.

In addition, there will targeted action against underage drinking with officers monitoring social media pages for information about house parties and arresting those violating the social host law by allowing minors to consume alcohol, Bellone said.

Officers will also be working to ensure the public adheres to social distancing protocols, officials said.

“We do not want this Labor Day weekend to turn into a tragic one,” Bellone aid. “Our message is clear, if you plan to drink this holiday weekend use common sense and plan a safe way home because if you get behind the wheel after you have been drinking, you will be caught and you will be held accountable.”

“The SCPD wants all residents to have an enjoyable, but more importantly, a safe Labor Day holiday,” Hart added. “Our officers will be doing their part to hold accountable those who put the lives of those around them at risk by choosing to get behind the wheel of a vehicle or boat under the influence.”

The U.S. Coast Guard also reminded boaters to use extra caution during the Labor Day weekend. Coast Guard crews, along with local and state law enforcement agencies, will be patrolling, conducting safety checks and ensuring mariners are staying safe, officials said.

The USCG offered tips:

Always wear a life jacket. Ensure there are enough life jackets for every person on the boat and children under 12 wear one when out on the open deck.

Boat sober. It is illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in every state. Penalties for violating BUI/BWI laws can include large fines, suspension or revocation of boat operator privileges and jail terms, the USCG said.

Have a float plan. A float plan should be given to a friend or family member and includes where you are going, when you will be back, a description of your boat, and other passengers. If you change plans mid-voyage, let someone know.

Have a marine radio. A VHF-FM radio set to channel 16 is the best method of communication while on the water. Although cell phones are a good backup, they can be unreliable due to gaps in coverage area or a dead battery.

Ask the captain. Before you get underway on a charter, or even pay for the trip, ask the captain to see their merchant mariner credentials.

Check the weather. Know the weather limitations of the boat. Check the weather for storms, tides, currents and winds.

Dive Safely. Always use a dive flag with swimmers in the water. Use GPS tracking for currents and drift.

Have an EPIRB. Always go out with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. An EPIRB is a device that is designed to transmit a distress signal to emergency responders through a satellite system.

Be COVID-19 safe. The National Safe Boating Council offers boaters tips for social distancing.

Describing the day her world changed forever, Lieneck said she and her husband and kids had gone to her brother's house on Fire Island for a day of tubing. At about 8:20 p.m. that night, they were heading back to the Bay Shore Marina, where they docked their boat.

"A boat just came out of nowhere," she said. "We had stopped our boat for a second, and had just started to go again. We were going about 5 to 10 miles per hour. This boat flew from behind us at full throttle and went up and over the top of our boat."

Their boat, Lieneck said had a heavy canopy that collapsed on Brianna.

"My husband and I didn't really know what was going on. We both took very bad hits to the head, and my arm was severed to the bone because of the propeller," she said.

Lieneck said their other daughter, 13-year-old Danyelle, was a "hero to all of us. I firmly believe it was the adrenaline — she lifted that canopy off my daughter."

But it was too late; Brianna died.

"We couldn't bury my daughter for a month because we were critically injured," Lieneck said.

Her memories of that horrific day haunt Lieneck. "The only thing I truly remember when we were finally brought to the hospital was that I kept saying, 'Where is Brianna?' A doctor said, 'You keep talking about Brianna. She's dead.' At that point they were losing me. I went into shock."

At home, Lieneck and her husband endured physical pain but even greater mental anguish.

Brianna would be 27 today.

In addition to a need for boaters to be regulated, Lieneck said, boating while intoxicated is a critical concern.

"It's mayhem out there," she said.

Lieneck said she often goes and sits by the Bay Shore Marina, watching the water. "It brings me closer to Brianna. I feel at peace there."

Still, she's "amazed at what goes on." Boaters without lights, speeding, drinking, not knowing basic rules of local waterways, she said.

"Education is so important," she said. "You have to have some knowledge before you get a boat and take it out on the water."