A heartbreaking boating accident in Miami’s Biscayne Bay has claimed the lives of two children after a sailboat collided with a barge, according to the US Coast Guard.
The collision occurred between Monument and Hibiscus Islands, sending six people — one adult and five children — into the water, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported.
The children were participants in a sailing program under the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation, as confirmed by a statement from the Miami Yacht Club.
Following the crash, four of the children were rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where two were tragically pronounced dead upon arrival. The ages of the children involved have not yet been released.
Petty Officer Nicholas Strasburg told CNN that the sailboat went under the barge after the impact.
In a statement, the yacht club expressed deep concern: “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.”
Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing.
