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MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Two children have died and four others were injured after a sailboat sank in Biscayne Bay near Miami Beach on Monday, authorities confirmed.
The incident began just before noon near Hibiscus Island, when a sailboat carrying six people, five children and one adult, was struck by a barge and began to sink.
Miami-Dade, City of Miami Fire Rescue and other emergency crews responded to reports of a submerged vessel, prompting a large first responder presence on the water.
“The vessel was struck somehow, that had five children on board and a camp counselor,” said Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez. “We had divers and swimmers from all agencies to be able to get all children on board.”
First responders pulled the victims from the water and administered CPR at a command post behind a home on Hibiscus Island. Four children were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition and one child was listed as stable.
Two of those children, ages 7 and 13, arrived dead to the hospital, while two others, ages 8 and 11, remain in critical condition as of Monday evening, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
All of the children were between 7 and 13 years old. A 19-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl also on board were not transported to the hospital.
The Miami Yacht Club confirmed the vessel belonged to the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation and said it is cooperating with investigators. They said the children were in their final week of sailing lessons when the incident occurred.
In a written statement, the Miami Yacht Club said:
“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.”
A young child on a nearby boat said she watched the incident unfold.
“The 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,” she said.
Another student who is part of the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation said he also watched it happen from the shore.
“I was on the shore, had just gotten there. I saw like everything happen and they all went flying off the boat. Two of them were found really quickly while three of them there was helicopters, boats,” said student Enzo Piffard.
Witnesses told 7News they were shocked to learn what had happened.
“I’ve lived here 40 years. I’ve never seen anything like this,” said area resident Margie Wollensky. “The sound of the helicopter was so close that I knew something was going on.”
“Horrible, really horrible and I hope that as we heard some of them are in critical condition so hopefully they’re all OK and this never happens again,” said area resident Jordan Schwartz.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the sailboat remains underwater under the barge and the identities of the victims remain unknown.
The Coast Guard is leading the investigation. They say the vessel owners are working a on a salvage plan to have it removed.
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