Key Biscayne

One Dead After Boat Capsizes East of Boca Chita Key

All three victims were thrown into the water when the 27-foot boat capsized.

A 72-year-old man is dead after a boat capsized three miles east of Boca Chita Key in Biscayne Bay Sunday.

Three men were thrown into the water when the 27-foot boat capsized after a wave swamped the back of it, according to Jorge Pino with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 

The men were able to lie on the overturned boat until help arrived, but 72-year-old Ramiro Rodriguez went into cardiac arrest, officials said.

"They were doing CPR to the elderly gentleman, so we deployed a diver immediately in the water," said Lt. Ernie Capote.

The men were able to call 911 and rescuers soon arrived on scene. Rodriguez was airlifted onto a rescue helicopter and transported to Mercy Hospital, where he later died. The condition of the two other victims, 44-year-old Carlos Manuel Amigo and 16-year-old Carlos Gabriel Amigo, was unknown.

The boat was towed back to Black Point Marina in Southwest Miami-Dade.

Contact Us