Boat Capsizes In Government Cut, 13 Rescued
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A boat capsized near Government Cut off the coast of Miami Saturday afternoon sending thirteen people into the water, officials said.
A family was out enjoying the water, when members said their boat started to flood.
Two of the survivors ended up at Bayside after they were plucked from the water by police.
They were happy to be alive and said they thought it could have been much worse.
"I was terrified," said Nazarena Houser. "I have a two-month-old at home and you know, me and her dad were in the boat. I just tried coming up and I didn't know what was going to happen. The boat was on top of me and I was just really scared."
The boat capsized around 6 p.m. Eleven people were plucked from the water by rescue boats. Four others in the party were on other personal watercraft and two of those watercraft were overwhelmed by the wave, the witnesses claimed.
A total of 13 people were rescued.
"We have a 23-foot boat, and one of those big island cruise ones came, and then there was a wave that flipped us," said Houser. "We just kept taking in water and water. There was nine of us on the boat and we just all ended up under water.
Miami Police said the people rescued knew how to swim, but in cases of accidents, it's not always enough.
"It's always good to know how to swim and if you're a very good swimmer that you don't need to have your life preserver on that's fine," said Lt. Ignatius Carroll with Miami Fire Rescue. "If you're not, then definitely have it on, even if you're in calm waters because you never know what can happen."
After the ordeal, the boat was towed and the group was reunited at Haulover Marina.
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