32 people rescued after 63-foot boat takes on water near Miami Beach, authorities say
Thirty-two people were rescued after their boat began to take on water near Miami Beach on Saturday evening, authorities said.
Around 5:05 p.m., Miami Beach Police responded to reports of a compromised 63-foot vessel near 22 Star Island Dr. and Flagler Monument Island.
"We got a call for a passenger vessel between Monument and Star Island with 32 souls on board," said 911 dispatchers. "Go ahead and start Fire Boat 21 as well."
Upon arrival, Marine Patrol units immediately began rescue efforts, police said, but called in backup because of the excessive amount. Multiple agencies, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard, assisted in the rescue.
Miami Beach Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue both confirmed to CBS News Miami that everyone on board was taken off the boat and assessed for injuries by the Miami Beach Fire Department. According to a social media post from the USCG, all 32 people did not suffer any injuries.
According to dispatch calls and multiple witnesses, it was a "Lamborghini vessel", but the exact model has not been confirmed. In the same post, the USCG said commercial salvage crews are working to recover the vessel and not hazardous to navigation.
At this time, it is unclear what caused the boat to sink.
Witnesses say the boat was sticking "straight up" in the water
Witnesses on the water and land whipped out their phones and started filming. Tourists on neighboring boats couldn't believe what they saw.
Rachael Miller told CBS News Miami that she saw the vessel sticking up in the water.
"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," she said.
"It was vertical," Miller added. "Yeah, it was straight up in the water. It definitely didn't look ordinary, and it's just very concerning."
In the photos shared by the USCG, some of the rescued also had their phones out, filming the ordeal.
"We're coming along and I see something in the distance appear at an angle, you can tell it was a big boat," said Bruce Marsh, another witness.
CBS News Miami had a crew at the Miami Beach Marina, where the rescued passengers were dropped off, and saw two of them leave the area, but refused to comment on the incident.
Officials did not share the total number of people rescued or what led the boat to take on water.
