2 Sailing Students Killed After Barge Strikes Their Boat off Miami Beach

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3 days ago

Three other children and an adult woman received treatment at a local hospital following the incident, per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Two children at a sailing program died after their boat was struck by another vessel in Miami Beach on Monday, July 28.
A total of six people were inside the sailboat when it was hit by a barge near Hibiscus Island around 11 a.m. local time, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release. Miami Beach Fire Rescue crews were the first to arrive and were later joined by rescue crews from local agencies, including Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, City of Miami Fire Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Coast Guard Station Miami Beach.
"All six individuals, an adult female and five juveniles, were recovered from the water and transported to a local hospital for treatment," the FWC said in a statement via X. "Tragically, two of the victims have succumbed to their injuries."
Two children were in critical condition, said Coast Guard spokesman and Petty Officer Third Class Nicholas Strasburg, per The New York Times. Another child was seen by medics at the scene but did not go to the hospital. The children were between 8 and 12 years old, Lt. Pete Sanchez, a spokesman for the Miami Fire Rescue Department, said, per The Times.
The sailboat was still "submerged" under the barge at the time of the U.S. Coast Guard's statement.
The victims were students at the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation, the Miami Yacht Club confirmed in an Instagram statement Monday.
The club said it was still "actively gathering all available facts" and prioritizing the safety of those involved. It is also cooperating with authorities amid the investigation.
The identities of the victims have not been made public.
"Our hearts are with the families of those lost and all who have been affected by this tragedy,' said Capt. Frank Florio, Commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami. 'Incidents like this leave a lasting impact on our maritime community and reinforce the importance of learning from every loss. The Coast Guard will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the causal factors and identify steps to help prevent similar tragedies in the future. We remain steadfast in our commitment to accountability, improvement, and the shared responsibility of ensuring safety at sea.'
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"We extend our deepest sympathies to the families affected by this heartbreaking loss. Our thoughts remain with them during this profoundly difficult time," FWC added.
PEOPLE reached out to the Miami Yacht Club and the Miami Fire Rescue Department for comment.
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