Dock collapses at NC beach, dropping about 12 people into the water. Injuries reported.

Several people are recovering from minor injuries after a dock collapsed at Atlantic Beach while they were trying to get onto a fishing boat, authorities say.

Around 6:30 a.m. Sunday, a 12-foot portion of a dock at Captain Stacy Fishing Center fell, throwing between eight and 12 people into the water, Chief Jeff Harvey of the Atlantic Beach Police Department said.

Two to three people were taken to Carteret Health Care for treatment of their injuries, Harvey said.

Captain Stacy Fishing Center said on Facebook that the “safety of our valued staff and visitors is always our top priority, and we are grateful to report that there were no major injuries resulting from this unfortunate event.”

“Our skilled team is already mobilized and focused on repairing the damaged dock as quickly as possible,” the statement read.

The cause of the collapsed dock has not been determined. Local news station WITN reported that the dock has been closed off from public access, and building inspectors have been contacted.

Harvey said there is no open investigation into the dock collapse and the town’s planning, zoning and inspection department would decide whether to open one.

For the past 60 years, Captain Stacy Fishing Center has offered fishing trips to people vacationing in Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, and New Bern.

The group offers half-day, three-quarters, full-day, and overnight fishing excursions on an 83-foot boat, Capt. Stacy IV. The boat is licensed for 100 passengers but keeps loads to 75 people or less.

The passengers signed waivers before getting on the boat, Harvey said.