A heartbreaking incident unfolded late Monday morning in Biscayne Bay, near Miami Beach, where two children lost their lives after their sailboat was struck by a barge. The U.S. Coast Guard reported that the vessel carried five children along with an adult camp counselor.
The tragic collision happened around 11:15 a.m., situated between Hibiscus Island and Monument Island, according to authorities.
Onboard the sailboat were six individuals when disaster struck—five kids and a lone adult supervising the group. The force of the impact threw everyone into the water.
Sadly, a 7-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl died at the scene. Two other girls, aged 8 and 11, are currently in critical condition at a nearby hospital. Fortunately, a 12-year-old girl and a 19-year-old woman were rescued without severe injuries.
These children were participating in a sailing camp run by the Miami Yacht Club, linked with the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation.
Search and Recovery Efforts Intensify
As the emergency response unfolded, reports indicated that some children might have been trapped underwater by the barge.
Multiple rescue teams, including those from Miami Beach, the City of Miami, and Miami-Dade County, quickly rushed to manage the situation.
Three children were taken to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition, while another was rated stable. Unfortunately, the Coast Guard confirmed later in the afternoon that two children had passed away. One child was evaluated at the scene along with the counselor but did not require further medical attention.
The Coast Guard set up a safety perimeter about 250 yards around the area where the sailboat is submerged under the barge.
Eyewitness Accounts Reveal Chaos
CBS News Miami spoke to local young witnesses who observed the events unfold. Nine-year-old Enzo Pifer Eddy recounted seeing the barge hit the boat, stating, “All the kids went flying off.” An 8-year-old witnessing the incident, who wishes to remain anonymous, recalled a girl crying out for help beneath the crane of the barge, describing the whole episode as both sorrowful and frightening.
Camp Responds to the Tragedy
The Miami Yacht Club verified that the involved children were indeed part of their summer youth program, expressing their condolences and distress over the incident. “We are actively working to gather all information possible as circumstances evolve,” a club spokesperson said. “The safety and well-being of everyone connected is our primary concern, and we are in close collaboration with relevant authorities to fully understand what transpired.”
The investigation into the collision is ongoing as more details are awaited.
