Two teenage girls from a Miami Beach sailing club lose their lives in a boating accident.
In a heartbreaking incident that unfolded on July 28, 2025, in South Florida's Biscayne Bay, a collision between a barge and a sailboat resulted in the loss of two young lives and left two others critically injured.
The sailboat, part of the Miami Yacht Club’s youth sailing summer program known as the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation, was hit by a barge equipped with a crane and pilings. The impact dragged the sailboat under, causing chaos and panic on board. All six people aboard were thrown into the water, with some trapped beneath the barge.
The incident occurred around 11 a.m. between Hibiscus Island and Monument Island. Rescue efforts were swift and coordinated, involving multiple agencies including Miami Beach Fire Rescue, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The U.S. Coast Guard is currently investigating the incident, with a 250-yard safety zone established around the submerged sailboat. The owners of both vessels are collaborating on commercial salvage efforts to remove the barge and the sailboat.
The victims of this tragedy were girls aged 7, 8, 11, and 13. Tragically, the two girls who died were 7 and 13 years old, while the 8- and 11-year-olds remain in critical condition. A 12-year-old girl and the 19-year-old counselor survived with minor or no injuries.
Preliminary information suggests a barge struck the sailing vessel carrying the six people. The exact cause of the collision is still under investigation by the Coast Guard and the fish and wildlife commission. No new information has been released about the condition of the adult leader from the incident.
This incident has left the community in shock, with many expressing their condolences and support for the families affected. The U.S. Coast Guard is asking for anyone with information related to the incident to come forward and help in the ongoing investigation.
[1] Miami Herald. (2025, July 28). Two children killed in Biscayne Bay sailboat collision. Retrieved from https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article305034096.html
[2] CBS Miami. (2025, July 28). Two Children Dead, Two Critically Injured After Sailboat Collides With Barge In Biscayne Bay. Retrieved from https://miami.cbslocal.com/2025/07/28/children-dead-injured-sailboat-collides-barge-biscayne-bay/
[3] NBC 6 South Florida. (2025, July 28). Two Children Killed In Biscayne Bay Sailboat Collision. Retrieved from https://www.nbc6.com/news/local-news/two-children-killed-in-biscayne-bay-sailboat-collision/2647730/
[4] WSVN 7News. (2025, July 28). Two children killed in Biscayne Bay sailboat collision. Retrieved from https://www.wsvn.com/news/local/two-children-killed-in-biscayne-bay-sailboat-collision/ARTICLE_2647730_20250728_MID_2647730.html
- The tragic sailboat collision in Biscayne Bay on July 28, 2025, was not only a general news story but also falls under the category of crime and justice, as it resulted in the loss of two young lives.
- In the realm of sports, the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation, a part of the Miami Yacht Club, was affected by the boat accident on July 28, 2025, in Biscayne Bay, where four children were involved in the incident, two of whom tragically lost their lives.
