this is "nightline." >> tonight, rushed to the hospital. ♪ i'm so sorry i'm not sober anymore ♪ >> on the heels of that wrenching musical confession that she's no longer sober, the singer demi lovato reportedly suffering a drug overdose. >> ems 11, engine 97, already on the scene, unconscious -- >> the latest on her condition and the look back of a substance abuse struggles of a pop star so inspires so many. the duck boat disaster. >> those poor people. >> new questions about the safety of that capsized missouri tour boat. 17 lives lost. the life vests the passengers did not wear, survivors

recounting those horrific moments. >> i just remember kicking and swimming. i was praying. i said, lord, please let me get to my babies, i got to get to my babies, i got to get to my babies. >> nine members of her family drowned. what the tour company is now saying. but first here the "nightline 5." only tylenol rapid release gels have laser-drilled holes. they release medicine fast for fast pain relief. tylenol. i'm missing out on family outings because i can't find a bladder leakage product that fits. everything was too loose. depend fit flex feels tailored to me. >> fit flex underwear is guaranteed

good evening. we start with the pop star demi lovato in crisis after a reported drug overdose. lovato has been an inspiration for millions of people, openly discussing her substance abuse issues, eating disorder, and psychiatric diagnosis. even offering free counseling services to fans at her conce concerts. now with her open health on the line, fellow celebrities and admirers are coming out in droves to wish her well. ♪ i got no excuses >> reporter: it was a wrenching and very public confession from the pop star demi lovato. ♪ wake me when the shakes are gone ♪ ♪ and the cold sweats disappear ♪ >> reporter: in her latest song called "sober," lovato admitted that she is, in fact, no longer sober. a setback in a years-long struggle. ♪ mama i'm so sorry i'm not sober anymore ♪ >> reporter: the video released just last month. and today we learned about the grave, real-life consequences of lovato's apparent relapse.

>> ems 11, engine 97, already on scene, female unconscious. >> reporter: 11:00 this morning ambulances rushed to demi lovato's home in los angeles. "people" magazine say according to a source, lovato overdosed. she's at cedars-sinai hospital in stable condition. >> a source close to the situation say she has battled depression and anxiety for some time and has continued to suffer and be in a lot of pain. >> reporter: a representative released a statement reading in part, demi is awake and with her family, who want to express thanks to everyone for the love, prayers, and support. >> when someone calls 911 because someone is unresponsive and unable to be aroused, you know, that's a true medical emergency. >> reporter: news of lovato's relapse reverberated through hollywood. many of the biggest stars who knew her well, like ellen degeneris, brad paisley, and kesha, took to twitter to offer their support. >> demi lovato is beloved not only by her fans but by other

people in the music community. they're support herlg through this and want to see her turn over a new leaf and come back from this situation. >> reporter: 25-year-old lovato, who became globally famous on the back of such upbeat hits as "sorry/not sorry" and "cool for the summer" has struggled with addiction and mental health problems since her teens. >> i used a bunch of coke and i popped a few xanax bars and i started to choke a little bit. and my heart started racing. and i remember thinking, oh my god, i might be overdosing right now. >> reporter: she opened up about her demons in this youtube red documentary last year called "simply complicated." >> i was at a hotel. and i invited two random people. and basically just drank with them. i got really, really drunk. until it was time to get on a flight. and i was so drunk that i threw up in the back of the car service on the way to the

airport to perform. >> ladies and gentlemen, demi lovato! ♪ when your lips >> she's been very open about that battle and actually doing a good job of fighting that and maintaining her sobriety, which makes this whole situation even more tragic. >> reporter: until recently it seemed as if lovato had a handle on her addiction. this past march on twitter she celebrated six yeerms of sobriety. >> in many ways addiction is no different than a chronic medical condition like diabetes, high blood pressure, or cancer. it's always there. >> reporter: lovato was just a little girl from dallas when she got her start on the show "barney and friends." ♪ i love you >> reporter: she went on to become one of disney's biggest stars. she was cast alongside the jonas brothers in the wildly successful "camp rock." ♪ this is real this is me i'm exactly where i'm supposed to be ♪ >> reporter: she went on to tour with the group and was even dating joe jonas, but offstage

she was abusing alcohol and cocaine. >> sneaking it on planes. sneaking it in bathrooms. sneaking it throughout the night. nobody knew. >> reporter: lovato was also struggling with an eating disorder and was cutting herself too, as she told abc's robin roberts in 2011. >> do you remember the first time that you cut yourself? >> i was 11. >> what did you feel from it? >> it was a way of expressing my own shame of myself on my own body. and there were some times where my emotions were just so built up, i didn't know what to do. the only way that i could get instant gratification was through an immediate release on myself. >> reporter: in 2010, lovato's family and management team held an intervention while she was on tour with the jonas brothers. >> i was performing concerts on an empty stomach. i was losing my voice from purging.

and i literally was so emotionally whacked out that i took it out on someone that meant a lot to me. they sat me down and said, you can't live like this, you need to get help. and that's exactly what i did. >> reporter: she went into rehab where she received a diagnosis that shocked her. bipolar disorder. >> i had no idea that i was even bipolar until i went into treatment. when i was 7 years old i started having suicidal thoughts. look back i'm like, okay, that makes sense. like, i was bipolar. i was actually manic a lot of the times that i would take on workloads and i would say, yes, i can do this, i can do this. then i would come crashing down and i would be more depressed than ever. >> reporter: she spent three months in rehab and in the following years she devoted herself to sobriety, becoming an advocate for rehab and recovery.

>> what i hope people learn from my story, i make it my life goal to inspire other people. i think it's important that i use my voice for more than just singing. and i just know how important it is to use my platform to help others and to share my story in hopes that it inspires people to either get into recovery or better themselves. whatever it is, i just want people to know they're not alone and i'm here for them. >> reporter: and her singing career also reached new heights with hits such as "give your heart a break." ♪ going to give your heart a break i know you're scared it's wrong ♪ >> reporter: and "confident." ♪ what's wrong with feeling confident ♪ >> reporter: in light of today's news, lovato has canceled her upcoming appearances and her concert in atlantic city. it is important to note that while this is a major setback, relapse can be a part of recovery. >> this is about waxing and waning course for many, many

people. it's usually not a flat line. it's important to remember for every world-famous celebrity, there are millions and millions of everyday people who are dealing with the same issues in sobriety and in dealing with an addiction. and they do deal with relapse. and i think that has to be the message that comes from the medical community, that there is treatment and there is hope. and we don't give up on a patient because they have a relapse. >> reporter: and as she sings in her new song "sober," she's only home human. ♪ i'm only human next here, after a deadly accident in missouri, new questions tonight about the safety of duck boats. the whit. 'cuz his new 2018 ford f-150 has blis with trailer coverage. it's brainiac smart. not only does it watch your f-150's blind spots, it's got your trailer covered too. just another reason why ford f-series

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tonight the investigation into what caused a duck boat accident outside of branson, missouri, that killed 17 people. one passenger claiming the tour company was aware of a storm warning before they departed. and the question tonight, how safe are these boats? here's abc's marcus moore. >> based on what me and my family went through, i never want to be on any boat ever again in my life. >> reporter: it as tragedy beyond unthinkable. for tia coleman, what was supposed to have been a fun family vacation ending in agonizing heartbreak. >> i've never had to recover from something like this. i don't know if there is a recovery from it. >> reporter: nine of her loved ones lost all at once. drowned along with eight others after their tour boat plunged to the bottom of table rock late. >> oh, no. >> reporter: yesterday these haunting images of the duck boat being pulled from the water. the bright life jackets still

unused. the first to emerge from the depths of that lake. >> one of the focuses of the investigation is determine whether or not the operation and this particular voyage was conducted in accordance with the operational guidance and the operational manual for ride the ducks. >> reporter: the tour boat carrying 31 people, 39 passengers and two crew members, now at the center of roiling debate over the safety of these vehicles. some calling for the tours to be banned nationwide, others saying it's time for reforms to be made. >> my biggest question is, why does that boat go out? they had thunderstorm warnings. and to be out on the water like that? >> reporter: and questions still remain as to why the captain manned that boat despite warnings of inclement weather and why none of the 29 passengers were wearing life vests. >> the life-saving requirements and regulations require personal flotation devices be on board for all passengers. >> reporter: branson, missouri, nestled in the ozark mountains, known as the live music show capital of the world. >> when you come to brandon,

what's the first thing you do? >> reporter: one of the city's main attractions, duck boats. this promotional video shows the 70-miniature on land and water. ♪ drive a truck around >> reporter: in an archive version of the ride the ducks website the company listed safety as a priority stating quote in addition to modern safety equipment the ride the ducks vehicle has patented safety features that no other duck-style vehicle has, so relax and enjoy this unique experience. and that is exactly what tia coleman and three generations of her family were hoping for on their annual summer road trip. it was their first time to brans branson. they decided to take the duck boat tour because her eldest son reese, who lived with autism, loved the water. >> he loved water and he likes to ride, that would work out for everybody. >> reporter: all 11 family members pausing for this group photo before getting on that boat. the tour runs this route, first on land before heading out on water. tia says as they prepared to board they announced a change of plans. >> before we left, they just

said, storm coming, so go to the water first so you can avoid it. >> reporter: that storm first mentioned thursday morning on the national weather service issuing a severe thunderstorm watch, warning of potential damaging winds and hail. by 6:30 p.m. local time, the national weather service upgraded that watch to a warning. despite the warnings, the boat headed out. tia says the captain pointed out the life jackets above. >> he said, i'm going to show you where they are but you won't need them to no need to worry. so we didn't grab them. >> reporter: a half hour after that weather advisory the storm rolled in with near hurricane-force winds whipping the calm water into vicious six-foot waves. the situation quickly turned dire. >> i had my son right next to me. but when the water filled up the boat, i could no longer see. i couldn't feel anybody. i couldn't see. i just remember, i got to get out, i got to get out. >> oh my gosh. >> reporter: witnesses on a nearby dinner cruise watched helplessly as the duck boat struggled to stay afloat.

passengers on another duck boat posting this video. that crew scrambling to get that boat to shore. >> need a water rescue, will be north of the showboat, will be a duck that has capsized -- >> when i got out into the water it was ice cold. and i just remember kicking and swimming. swimming up to the top. and as i was swimming up i was praying. i said, lord, please let me get to my babies, i got to get to my babies. the waves were crashing over my face and every time i'd get my head a little above water i'd scream, help, help! i saw the riverboat. they were, oh my god, they were jumping in and saving people, they were throwing life rafts out to everybody. >> reporter: trent baer and alison lester were on a dinner cruise and rushed into the water to help others in need. >> actually saw a young lady who was laying in the water. we did eventually pull her up onto the boat. she was unconscious. i was about ready to start cpr

and the emt did show up at that time. >> reporter: five injured, the bodies of 17 passengers recovered, including robert williams, the boat's driver. the victims raging from 1 to 76 years. reportedly none of those rescued or who drowned were wearing life jackets. of the lost, nine members of tia's family, including her husband and three young children. she and her 13-year-old nephew are the only two from her family that survived. >> i would ask everybody to remember my family. as the beautiful people they were. >> reporter: the president of ripley entertainment, who owns the tour company, said the operator has a good safety record, but he says even though the storm seemingly came out of nowhere, the boat should never have been on the water. >> shouldn't have been in the water. if what happened happened. >> reporter: steven paul was hired by ripley's entertainment to inspect those duck boats last august, including the one involved in thursday's incident. >> that is stretch duck 7, definitely on my list of ducks i

did inspect. >> reporter: he found three specific safety issues while noticing water safety concerns too. >> i can speak to the fact of the exhaust being forward of the cabin there on the front of the ship. basic mechanical design, if you get water up into an engine's exhaust, eventually the engine will flood with water. and will become inoperable. >> reporter: he says the standard design of many duck boats also leads to other concerns. >> those curtains being down. the canopy being on top of that boat. there's no engine exits on it. >> reporter: a duck boat's restrictive canopy cited as a factor in another tragedy. >> back in 1999, there's the accident down in arkansas where the canopy was an issue. >> reporter: 13 people drowned in that incident in hot springs, arkansas. ntsb citing that quote inadequate maintenance allowed water to enter the hole, the boat's cappy trapping some passengers inside. in that ntsb report the agency states that passengers should not wear life jackets if the

boat has a candy roof because they could become trapped and drown. but tia believes if she could have grabbed a life jacket, things would have been different. >> no matter what, i felt like if i was able to get a life jacket, i could have saved my babies. >> reporter: although it is not yet known exactly what caused the drowning deaths of these 17 people on thursday, paul says these vehicles could benefit from more extensive regulation. >> maybe this could have been prevented. if we had some sort of standard for amphibious vehicles going through the inspection process. >> reporter: the boat was so close to matthew mcconaughey making it back to this ramp, but it sank about 100 yards away near the stern of the popular "brandon belle." ride the ducks branson has offered to pay for the funerals and medical expenses of the victims saying, we remain deeply saddened by the tragic accident that occurred at the ride the ducks branson. our focus from the start has been on the guests, families, and employees who were affected last thursday. but for the friends and family

still grappling with this tragedy, their lives forever shattered. >> going home, i already know it's going to be completely, completely difficult. i don't know how i'm going to do it. i'm -- since i've had a home, it's always been filled. it's always been filled with little feet and laughter. and my husband. i don't know how i'm going to do it. >> reporter: for "nightline," i'm marcus moore in branson, missouri. ♪ stand by me >> next, another major opportunity for the gospel choir who performed "stand by me" at the royal wedding. ♪ stand by me crabfest is back at red lobster! discover our largest variety of crab and crab dishes all year!

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>> reporter: remember that gospel choir that performed "stand by me" at the royal wedding? you're about to hear a lot more of them. they just signed a major record deal. celebrating with a live performance outside of kensington palace and promising some tricks up their sleeves. >> "halo" by beyonce, "blinded by your grace." you've got "golden" by jill scott as well. there's a big variety of loads of different tracks that i don't think everybody's expecting us to bring. we're excited to share that, yeah. >> they are amazing and we congratulate them. we want to thank you for watching "nightline" tonight. as always we're online 24/7 on our "nightline" f

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