On 10/8/12, at approximately 0330, a small vessel with 2POB left Haulover Marina in Miami-Dade County to fish.

The vessel headed south on the ICW and stopped to fish under the Haulover Bridge for approximately 30min.  The vessel then headed offshore via the Haulover inlet. The conditions were small craft advisory and extremely rough with an outgoing tide.  The vessel attempted to travel through the inlet when it began to take on water.  The water entered the vessel from the transom and began to flood the boat and overwhelm the bilge pump. The occupants began to bucket water out of the vessel but they were not successful. The vessel swamped and the two occupants found themselves in the water. 

Both occupants attempted to swim to shore however one was unable to swim and eventually went under the surface and drowned. The other occupant was able to make it to shore and called for local police.

At approximately 1330, the victim was located approximately .5 Miles North from where the vessel began to take on water. The victim was recovered from an sandy bottom in 15ft of water by police divers. He was identified by next of kin and transported to the M.E. Office.

The vessel recovered was a 15' flats boat with a low transom design. Vessel design, rough seas and outgoing tidal conditions all contributed to this accident.;
MIAMI                         