Third child dies after tragic Miami sailboat and barge collision: 'Unthinkable nightmare'
"With the passing of a third sailor, the entire sailing community is shattered by grief," the Miami Yacht Club said in a statement.
- A third child has died following a July 28 collision between a barge and a sailboat near Miami Beach, Florida.
- The 10-year-old girl passed away in the hospital, joining two other children, ages 7 and 13, who died earlier.
- The Coast Guard is conducting a thorough investigation, with assistance from Argentinian investigators, and has ruled out alcohol and drug use as factors.
A third child has died after a barge collided with a youth club's sailing boat off Miami Beach, Florida, on July 28, officials said.
The U.S. Coast Guard said in an Aug. 3 news release that a 10-year-old child who was in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital following the accident died "while surrounded by her immediate family."
“Our hearts continue to mourn with all those impacted by Monday’s tragic incident, especially with the passing of another one of Miami’s children today,” said Capt. Frank Florio, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Miami, in the release. “The Coast Guard remains committed to conducting a thorough investigation to ensure all facts are uncovered."
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a release on July 28 that preliminary information indicated a “barge struck a sailing vessel carrying six people." The Coast Guard said in a release that the accident happened around 11 a.m. local time near Hibiscus Island, a man-made island in Biscayne Bay.
7-year-old, 13-year-old died in crash
Six people were in the water after the crash, the Coast Guard said. Two children, 7 and 13, were declared dead upon arrival at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Two other children were in critical condition following the accident. A 12-year-old girl and a 19-year-old, believed to be the group's instructor, were rescued from the water as well, according to the Coast Guard.
On July 31, the Coast Guard said in a release that it conducted alcohol and drug testing for individuals on the barge as well as the sailboat operating as part of standard procedures. All results were negative.
The agency said anyone with information, including eyewitness accounts or videos, should contact investigators via email at MiamiIO@uscg.mil.
"We routinely seek the expertise of our federal, state, and local partner law enforcement agencies, and this case is no different," the Coast Guard said in the Aug. 3 release. "Our investigative team will be joined by investigators from Argentina, the home nation of one of the victims.”
'Entire sailing community is shattered by grief'
The Miami Yacht Club confirmed in a social media statement that members of the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation were involved in the crash.
The club confirmed the third child's death in a social media statement on Sunday, writing in part that "the entire sailing community is shattered by grief."
"Our hearts are broken for these families," the statement said. "There are no words that can ease this pain, but we stand in full solidarity with the families, counselors, and every member of the YSF during this unthinkable nightmare."
The Miami Yacht Club said it is "working closely with the families to provide every possible resource, comfort, and support during this time, including mental health and grief counseling services."
"This is a tragedy that has touched not only the sailing community but everyone who cherishes our Bay and the young lives who brought such joy to it," the statement said.
Contributing: Thao Nguyen, Paste BN
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for Paste BN. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.