Tragedy struck a sailing camp in Miami on Monday when a barge collided with a sailing boat, resulting in the deaths of two children and leaving two others in critical condition, officials reported.
Emergency services rescued all six individuals aboard the sailing boat, but two children were declared dead upon arrival at the hospital, according to US Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg.
The group, consisting of one adult and five children aged seven to 15, were participating in the final week of the sailing camp organized by the Miami Yacht Club.
“The entire MYC family is devastated by this terrible tragedy,” said Emily Copeland, the commodore of the yacht club, in a released statement.
Mr. Strasburg stated that the remaining two rescued individuals were in “good condition.”
Coast Guard statistics indicate that over 550 recreational boating fatalities occurred in the US last year, with 43 attributed to vessel collisions.
The collision happened near Star Island, situated between Miami Beach and Miami within Biscayne Bay, stated Arielle Callender, a regional spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Local news outlets broadcasted images of first responders, including some in scuba gear, in boats surrounding what appeared to be a barge. The Coast Guard is currently investigating the cause of the accident.
