4 deceased, 11 rescued after boat capsized off the Miami coast

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Jon-Paul Rios | A Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale Response Boat — Medium crew tows a vessel that capsized seven nautical miles east of Government Cut to Coast Guard Station Miami Beach, Fla., Oct. 16, 2013. The capsized vessel resulted in 11 people being rescued by the Coast Guard and four deaths. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jon-Paul Rios.  

MIAMI, FL, UNITED STATES

10.16.2013

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jon-Paul Rios    

U.S. Coast Guard District 7     

MIAMI — Four people were killed and 11 people were rescued after a boat capsized off the Miami coast early Wednesday morning.

The names of the dead and rescued are being withheld pending next of kin notification.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the deceased," said Capt. Austin Gould, commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami. "This tragic case reiterates the dangers of traveling aboard an overcrowded boat at night with no safety equipment on board."

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Miami received a report at about 1 a.m. from a Miami-Dade County 911 dispatch of the capsized vessel and launched a boatcrew from Station Miami Beach and an MH-65 helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Miami to respond.

The rescue crews arrived on scene, approximately seven miles east of Government Cut and rescued 11 people from the water. One of the survivors was medically evacuated to Station Miami Beach where emergency medical services awaited and transported him to a local hospital

The cause of capsizing is under investigation.

• Date Taken: 10.16.2013
• Date Posted: 10.16.2013 12:13
• Story ID: 115220
• Location: MIAMI, FL, US