2 Dead, 10 Rescued After Boat Collision in Florida: Coast Guard

Coast Guard Station Miami Beach small boat crew inspecting a boat that was part of a collision near Key Biscayne, Florida, June 17, 2022. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Station Miami Beach

Two people have died and ten people were rescued after a two boats collided on Friday, off the Florida town of Key Biscayne.

The incident was alerted to the Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders by a person involved in the boat collision around 10:30 p.m.

At the time, the person reported that there were 12 people in the water about 1 mile west of Key Biscayne. The town is a few miles southeast of Miami.

Coast Guard small boat crews and helicopter aircrew rescued 10 people and recovered one body from the water, while a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crew also recovered one body from the water, the Coast Guard announced on Saturday.

Two of the survivors were critically injured, according to the release. A rescue swimmer helped the two and transferred one of the survivors to a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crew, who brought them to the Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Of the 10 who survived, six were transported to HCA Florida Mercy Hospital, two were transported to Ryder Trauma Center, and two were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital, reported WTVJ, citing the Miami Fire Rescue.

“On behalf of the Coast Guard and our partner agencies, we'd like to offer our sincerest condolences to the families and friends who lost their loved ones,” Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin Tuxhorn, search and rescue mission coordinator of Coast Guard Sector Miami, said in a statement on Saturday.

“The Coast Guard and our local partner agencies quickly responded and exhaustively worked together on this search and rescue case.”

It remains unclear what led to the collision. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the incident, according to the release.

The commission was involved in the search and rescue, alongside the Coast Guard Station Miami Beach, Coast Guard Air Station Miami, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Miami-Dade Police Department, and Miami Fire Rescue.