A beach boardwalk collapse has injured at least 21 teenage campers from a church.
According to Assistant Chief Justin Mills of the Surfside Beach Volunteer Fire Department, the elevated walkway that fell on Thursday about 12.30 pm struck the Bayou City Fellowship group as they were touring Stahlman Park in Surfside, Texas.
A spokeswoman for Brazoria County reported that five teenagers were transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. Ten other patients were driven to hospitals in their own automobiles, while six more were transported in ambulances to local hospitals.
None of the injuries were life-threatening, according to the spokesperson.
It was not immediately known what caused the boardwalk to collapse. The incident is under investigation.
A video from Air 11 showed the walkway was partially collapsed, with other portions still standing. The boardwalk appeared to be constructed of wood and led to a building. Yellow caution tape was wrapped around the structure.
Seven helicopters responded and three landed at a nearby park.
Bayou City Fellowship stated that part of the deck collapsed as the students took a group picture.
‘While this is a traumatic event, we are blessed to report that none of the injuries are life-threatening,’ stated the fellowship, according to KHOU 11.
‘We are thankful for the outpour of concern from our community and ask that the city and surrounding areas keep all that are affected physically and emotionally in prayer.’
The fellowship added that the names of the teens and specifics on their injuries would not be released for privacy reasons. Some of the hospitalizations were precautionary.
A total of 78 students visited Surfside from Cypress, Spring Branch and Tomball, for the annual church camp trip.
Surfside Beach is a small Gulf Coast town about 65 miles south of Houston and has a populationof less than 1,000 people.