Two young sailing club members were killed and two others were seriously injured after their sailboat was struck by a barge and capsized in Miami waters Monday, officials said.
Five girls attending a youth sailing camp were on Biscayne Bay around 11:15 a.m. when the barge struck their sailboat, with the collision sending the youngsters and their adult counselor overboard, according to officials.
Two children died at the scene while the other two remain in critical condition, the US Coast Guard said Monday evening, and confirmed that all passengers on board the sailboat were female, according to WSVN.
It is unclear if the girls — who were between the ages of 8 and 12 — were wearing life jackets. The cause of the crash is not yet known.
A boat sinking near Hibiscus Island in Miami Beach triggers a rescue situation.
First responders are at the scene of a boat sinking near Hibiscus Island.
“The vessel was struck somehow, that had five children on board and a camp counselor,” Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez said. “We had divers and swimmers from all agencies to be able to get all children on board.”
A young girl on a nearby boat told WSVN that the barge’s crane “just completely destroyed the boat. The boat just went under, and I heard one girl shout, ‘Help’ from under the crane.
“It was super sad and super scary.”
Footage from local news helicopters showed first responders performing CPR on at least one person as divers scoured the water.
“There was a massive boat, and it hit one of the small sailboats, and all the kids went flying off,” witness and former sailing camp attendee Enzo Piffartti told NBC 6.
A boat sank in the Biscayne Bay, triggering a search and rescue operation.
The two other young sailing students and their female adult counselor were taken to the Miami Yacht Club, with one of the kids being treated for minor injuries.
Calls came in about the capsized ship at around 11:15 a.m., with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue team leading the water operation between Hibiscus Island and Monument Island.
The swift response allowed local agencies to quickly rescue everyone from the water, the MDRF said in a statement.
The Yacht Club confirmed that the incident involved members of the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation, with no word yet on what caused the crash.
“At this time, details are still emerging, and we are actively gathering all available facts. Our priority is the safety and well-being of everyone involved, and we are working closely with the appropriate authorities and organizations to understand the situation fully,” the club said in a statement.
The FWC, which has taken charge of the case, said the incident remains under investigation.
“Our hearts are with the families of those lost and all who have been affected by this tragedy,” Capt. Frank Florio, commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami, later said, according to NBC 6.
“Incidents like this leave a lasting impact on our maritime community and reinforce the importance of learning from every loss. The Coast Guard will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the causal factors and identify steps to help prevent similar tragedies in the future. We remain steadfast in our commitment to accountability, improvement, and the shared responsibility of ensuring safety at sea.”
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava also expressed her condolences
I’m absolutely heartbroken by the tragic news that two children have died in a boat accident in Miami Beach today. While many details remain unknown, our thoughts are with their families, and we pray for the full recovery of all those affected by this horrific incident.
