Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

One dead, five missing, after boat capsizes off Florida’s Treasure Coast

A survivor from the overturned vessel told to investigators that five people had drowned

James Liddell
Monday 14 April 2025 17:08 BST
Comments
U.S. Coast Guard helicopter seen with a deputy from the Martin County Sheriff's Office near the overturned vessel Sunday
U.S. Coast Guard helicopter seen with a deputy from the Martin County Sheriff's Office near the overturned vessel Sunday (Martin County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)

At least one person is dead, and five people are missing after a boat was found capsized off Florida’s Treasure Coast.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the group was on board a vessel that overturned around 10 a.m. on Sunday, 22 miles off of St. Lucie, north of West Palm Beach.

In addition to the deceased person and the five who are still missing, four others who were on board have been rescued by the Coast Guard.

One of those who was rescued told investigators that five of those on board drowned, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit which is assisting USCG in the search.

According to the sheriff's office, residents of the Dominican Republic and Haiti are believed to be among those on board the vessel.

The rescue mission was launched after a “good Samaritan reported the incident,” officials have said.

U.S. Coast Guard shared a photograph of the overturned boat on Sunday
U.S. Coast Guard shared a photograph of the overturned boat on Sunday (U.S. Coast Guard)

The four who were taken from the water were transported to the Cleveland South Hospital for further evaluation after they were flown to Stuart Airport by helicopter.

Three were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, and one patient was in serious condition, officials said.

Later Sunday, investigators from the Martin County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit said that the vessel left the Bahamas nine days ago before it encountered difficulty.

Five people are still missing after a boat capsized almost 22 miles away from the Southeastern Florida coast
Five people are still missing after a boat capsized almost 22 miles away from the Southeastern Florida coast (Martin County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)

Photographs shared on Facebook by the sheriff’s office appear to show one person being airlifted into a Coast Guard helicopter.

The incident comes just weeks after an 18-foot-long vessel capsized near Goat Island on St. Johns River in Jacksonville on March 21.

Four people were on top of the boat, and four more were possibly underneath it, according to the U.S. Coast Guard's initial report. Three of the missing, who were family members, were pronounced dead. A child remained missing.

The Independent has contacted the Coast Guard and Martin County Sheriff's Office for more information.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in