A tragic accident unfolded on the Miami River on Sunday, as a woman celebrating St. Patrick's Day lost her life after falling from a charter boat into the bustling waterway, authorities confirmed.
The Miami Police Marine Patrol was called to the scene around 4 p.m. following reports of the woman going overboard, amid a surge of holiday boating traffic. The unfortunate incident took place near the Brickell Bridge, WSVN reported. The woman, whose identity has not been revealed, but is said to be in her mid-20s, was spotted being pulled from the water in a video posted by Only in Dade. Despite immediate rescue efforts, she did not survive her injuries, NBC Miami detailed.
Witnesses aboard the charter boat were quick to call 911 upon witnessing the fall, with one passenger, in a statement obtained by WSVN, recounting the harrowing moments as they saw their fellow passenger go overboard, "She said that she saw [the passenger] fall over, and as they attempted to turn the boat around, they saw another boat that may have struck [the passenger]."
First responders, including Miami Fire Rescue crews, were able to locate the woman quickly thanks to assistance from onlookers, despite the deep waters. Paramedics attempted life-saving procedures immediately, rushing her to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, the police confirmed on Monday morning. The exact circumstances of what led to her fall, and the duration she was in the water remains unknown, as does any potential involvement of other boaters in the tragedy, according to NBC Miami.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is now conducting an investigation to demystify the sequence of events leading up to the fatal incident. As of now, it has not been confirmed if any charges will be brought forth in relation to the woman's death.
