$4m Lamborghini yacht sinks off Miami Beach, 32 rescued

A luxury Lamborghini yacht worth an estimated $4m sank off the coast of Miami Beach on Saturday afternoon during the city’s star-studded Formula One Grand Prix weekend, leading to the rescue of 32 people.

The 19.2-metre Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63 began taking on water near Monument Island, a popular spot in Biscayne Bay, at around 5pm local time. The limited-edition vessel — a collaboration between The Italian Sea Group and the high-end Italian auto brand — has a maximum capacity of between 12 and 16 people, depending on the configuration, but was reportedly packed with over 30 passengers for a party. Photos and footage taken earlier in the day showed a crowd of influencers partying on the yacht’s sundeck.

The vessel began sinking at the stern. The boat began tipping and ultimately became near-vertical before sinking further into the water.

“Everyone went to the top of the boat, and then we realised half the boat was in the water,” one passenger told CBS News Miami.

Witness Rachael Miller told the channel: “We were just on the boat and we saw a bunch of cops, police boats, and there was another yacht that was flipped over completely vertically in the water. It was vertical. Yeah, it was straight up in the water. It definitely didn’t look ordinary, and it’s just very concerning.”

As panic set in, orange life vests were passed around. Footage shared by passenger Lauren Nicole captured her shouting “F*** my life” as debris floated nearby. Another clip showed someone else on board joking: “Iceberg, iceberg,” while others took selfies and clutched luxury items.

One woman was seen holding a $330 bottle of Clase Azul Gold Tequila, prompting her friends to shout “Baby is safe!” and “The women and children are okay!” Others saved designer bags and a MacBook Air.

First responders from the US Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Miami Beach Police Marine Patrol, and fire rescue teams from Miami-Dade and the City of Miami were rushed to the scene after distress calls. All 32 people on board were safely evacuated and taken to Miami Beach Marina at 300 Alton Road. No injuries were reported.

“Everyone’s safe,” one passenger wrote alongside a video showing dozens wearing life jackets.

The Coast Guard confirmed the yacht was removed from the channel and was not hazardous to other boats. The cause of the sinking remains unclear, but authorities have noted the vessel was significantly overloaded. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is leading the investigation.

The Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63 is one of only a fleet of 11 of its kinds that were produced, making it one of the most exclusive vessels on the market.

Despite the near-disaster, the partygoers appeared largely undeterred. Lauren Nicole later posted videos from a lively event at Jungle Island, showing the group continuing their night out.

The incident occurred amid a busy weekend in South Florida, with the Miami Grand Prix drawing celebrities and fans to the Miami International Autodrome, and an air and sea show bringing crowds to nearby Fort Lauderdale.