MIAMI — The body of a man, who went missing on Saturday, was positively identified by a medical examiner with Miami-Dade County, Sunday.
Crewmembers aboard a Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter located the body of the missing boater inside the surf line at 59th Street and Collins Avenue, at approximately 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
The identification of the deceased is being withheld pending next of kin notification.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time,” said Capt. Chris Scraba, Coast Guard Sector Miami Commander.
Late Saturday evening, Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders received a report from three people who had swam to shore in the vicinity of 63rd Street and Collins Avenue after reporting their 23-foot vessel had capsized. A fourth boater was reported missing, hanging on to a blue and white cooler and not wearing a personal flotation device.
A Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and a Coast Guard Sector Miami 33-foot response boat were launched to search for the missing boater in partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and local fire and rescue crews.
FWC is investigating the cause of the capsized vessel.
The Coast Guard strongly encourages all boaters to use multiple forms of safety of gear, such as:
- Life jackets
- EPIRBs
- VHF-FM radios (cell phones aren’t always reliable offshore)
- Distress signals (flares, signaling mirrors)
- Sound-producing devices (air horns, whistles)
Boaters are also strongly encouraged to file a float plan before heading out to sea. For more information on boating safety, visit www.uscgboating.org.
