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Survivors and the bereaved families of the Sapelo Island boat dock gangway tragedy are calling for a thorough investigation and accountability after a devastating incident turned a festive occasion into a horrific disaster. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing three victimized families, led a news conference Tuesday at Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, underscoring the catastrophic nature of what he termed an "unnecessary, unjustifiable, and preventable" event.

The collapse occurred last Saturday as scores of visitors gathered to celebrate the Gullah-Geechee community, descendants of African slaves on Southern coastal plantations. As attendees prepared to board a ferry back to the mainland, the aluminum gangway they stood on suddenly gave way. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources reported that the accident resulted in at least 20 people being thrown into the Duplin River.

Crump emphasized the urgent need for a full-scale investigation on multiple levels to uncover the cause of the infrastructure failure. "They were there for a celebration, and it turned into a tragedy because of malfeasance and inadequate infrastructure," he stated. Crump's legal team is looking into those overseeing daily operations and repairs, as well as the design and manufacturing of the gangway materials.

Survivors shared harrowing experiences from the incident. Yvette Jackson, a senior on a family trip, barely escaped the collapse. "It was the most horrific thing I have ever experienced," she recalled. Her aunt, Katrena Alexander, was overwhelmed with panic searching for her daughter, Regina Brinson, who had fallen into the water but fortunately survived.

Video footage reveals a chaotic scene, with people clinging desperately to the tilted remains of the gangway. Brinson recounted trying to help 93-year-old Carlotta McIntosh across the gangway before they were both plunged into the river. Strong currents swept a group of them away from the ferry, amplifying the panic and confusion.

Brinson vividly recalled a desperate moment with her uncle, Isaiah Thomas, in the water. After being pulled under, she was forced to break free from his grip to survive. Tragically, Thomas did not survive the ordeal.

Ben Crump stressed the critical need for mental health support for the survivors suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. "Nobody knows what it's like to go under the water and let somebody help you out and bring you out," added Pearl Davis, another survivor.

Despite their grief, the families and survivors are resolved to find justice for what they are calling the "Sapelo Seven." The quest for answers and accountability continues amid calls for federal intervention to prevent such incidents in the future.