In October 2025, Robert Mulrooney and his two sons, Matthew and Sean, set out on a fishing trip off the coast of San Diego.
They headed back to San Diego’s famed Marlin Club — with a 582-pound marlin in tow.
The Marlin Club, established in 1931, is one of the oldest fishing clubs located on Shelter Island, and is known for its fishing tournaments and ties to San Diego.
They docked their boat, excited to find out what their prized catch weighed.
An average marlin is around 200 to 400 pounds, so with this over 500-pound fish, it was one of a kind.
As Robert Mulrooney and his sons watched the metal dock crane hoist the massive marlin out of the water, the metal crane affixed to the dock snapped in half.
The crane knocked Matthew Mulrooney into the water, breaking his back, according to a legal tort claim Times of San Diego obtained through a public records request.
He fought his way to the water’s surface to lift himself onto a flotation device with his injuries until first responders arrived.
As Matthew Mulrooney struggled, his brother Sean was on the boat with his left leg pinned by the crane’s shaft. He wiggled out and fell into the water.
Meanwhile, Matthew and Sean’s father, Robert Mulrooney watched the crane hit both of his sons; he believed Matthew Mulrooney had drowned when being knocked into the water, causing him intense emotional distress, according to the claim.
First responders arrived at the scene and removed Matthew Mulrooney from the water. Doctors later found multiple fractures along his spine, broken ribs and lacerations throughout his body.
“It is yet to be determined whether he will ever regain his pre-incident function and pain level to his back,” stated in the tort claim.
The tort claims from the Mulrooney family list the Port of San Diego and possibly the city as being at fault for the damages and attribute them to the responsibility of the crane’s maintenance. They are also accusing the operators of the crane of negligence.
“The agent, employee, or independent contractor of The Marlin Club failed to provide any warning of the crane, its capacity, its maximum weight, or otherwise,” the tort claims state.
The crane was described as “rusted inside and out.”
A spokesperson from the Port confirmed it has received the three claims from the individuals related to the incident.
The Port of San Diego declined to comment on the legal claims due to pending litigation.
The Marlin Club also did not comment on the incident or the claims.
