South Carolina woman, 63, dies after being IMPALED by windblown beach umbrella in freak accident
HORRY COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA: Authorities reported that a beachgoer was killed by a beach umbrella on Wednesday, August 11, when it struck and impaled her in the chest. Tammy Perreault, 63, was at a beach in Garden City when the umbrella was blown from its anchoring by the wind at 12.40 pm according to Horry County Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard.
Perreault, 63, died from chest trauma at the hospital about an hour later, Willard confirmed with WBTW. The federal agency said that an estimated 3,000 individuals are hurt by beach umbrellas annually. “This is a terrible loss, and we know our community is hurting,” Thomas Bell, a spokesperson for Horry County Emergency Management, told NY Post. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim as they navigate through this difficult time.”
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The US Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that beach umbrellas have a spiky end to help press them into the sand and their large canopy allows them to get swept up in a high wind if they are not anchored properly.
A study that was published in the Journal of Safety Research in 2021 found that between 2000 and 2019, there were approximately 5,512 beach umbrella injuries reported to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. 50.6 per cent of beach umbrella accidents were due to wind. About 16.6 per cent of the incidents included injuries to internal organs.
Scotty's Beach Bar shared their grief on Facebook with the caption, "With heavy hearts, we mourn the loss of a dear friend and kind-hearted local, Tammy Perreault. Some things we will never begin to understand but what we do know is no one has a bad thing to say about this woman. To be as sweet as her day in and day out should be a goal for all If everyone can please keep the Perreault family in your hearts today especially her husband Mike. Mike we love you and are immensely sorry for your loss.. everyone at Scotty's, staff and Scotty's family will continue prayer."
Perreault had been moved from the beach by the time officials arrived. She eventually died from her injuries after being brought to Waccamaw ER. She was allegedly struck on the left side of her upper chest, according to witnesses, ABC15 reports.
The Journal of Safety Research reports that women over 40 make up the majority of those hurt by beach and patio umbrellas.