Two children killed in Miami sailing programme collision
Two children were killed and two others critically injured on Monday (28 July 2025) after a barge struck a sailboat in Biscayne Bay off Miami Beach, officials said.
The sailboat, which was participating in a youth sailing programme run by the Miami Yacht Club, was carrying one adult and five children when it was hit, causing the vessel to capsize and all six individuals to be thrown overboard.
The collision occurred around 11.15am in the waters between Monument Island and Hibiscus Island, according to officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Miami Beach Fire Rescue. Authorities said they received multiple calls reporting a boating accident involving a submerged vessel with missing occupants near Hibiscus Island.
Emergency crews from the US Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, City of Miami Fire Rescue, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Miami Beach Fire Rescue responded to the scene. Divers and rescue boats pulled all six people from the water, and four children were transported to local hospitals, where two were pronounced dead upon arrival. Two others were reported to be in critical condition.
“A counsellor and children between the ages of 8 and 12 were on the sailboat,” the Miami Beach Police Department said in a statement issued yesterday. One child was evaluated on scene and did not require hospitalisation, while the adult woman — identified as a camp counsellor — was in stable condition and also did not require hospital treatment, according to Miami Fire Rescue spokesman Lt. Pete Sanchez.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg, a spokesperson for the US Coast Guard, said: “All six people on the sailing boat were pulled from the water by responders, and four kids were rushed to a nearby hospital where two were pronounced dead upon arrival.” He added that two of the six who were rescued were in “good condition”.
The Coast Guard confirmed that the group was participating in their final week of a youth sailing camp for children aged 7 to 15. “The entire MYC family is devastated by this terrible tragedy,” said Emily Copeland, the commodore of the Miami Yacht Club, in a statement following the incident.
The statement from the club added: “At this time, details are still emerging, and we are actively gathering all available facts. Our priority is the safety and well-being of everyone involved, and we are working closely with the appropriate authorities and organisations to understand the situation fully.”
The Coast Guard said the sailboat remained submerged beneath the barge as of Monday evening. Local television footage showed multiple rescue vessels and divers in the water around the barge.
Arielle Callender, a regional spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said the boats collided near Star Island, located between Miami and Miami Beach in Biscayne Bay.
According to Coast Guard statistics, there were over 550 recreational boating deaths in the United States last year, with 43 caused by vessel collisions.
“The Coast Guard will conduct a thorough investigation,” said Capt. Frank Florio, commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to accountability, improvement, and the shared responsibility of ensuring safety at sea.” He added: “Our hearts are with the families of those lost and all who have been affected by this tragedy. The Coast Guard will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the causal factors and identify steps to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.”
The FWC said its officers are assisting with the investigation, which remains ongoing.
