RedactedNarrative: On October10, 2016, I responded to the residence of the victims of a vessel sinking incident for the purpose of interviewing the subjects involved. At approximately 1218 hours on October 10, 2016, I made contact with Owner/Operator and Occupant.
  
  According to both verbal and sworn written statements, the incident resulting in the vessel sinking occurred at approximately 0500 hours on October 09, 2016, at anchor while fishing in the Atlantic Ocean waters off of Miami-Dade County. 
  
  The vessel began taking on water from an unknown source. The occupants deployed (2) red parachute flares and hailed for help on VHF channel 06, (not the correct emergency hailing VHF channel 16). The vessel promptly became swamped by surface waves, began to capsize, became submerged, and continued to sink. Both occupants donned Type II PFDs and floated for approximately (2) hours before being sighted and rescued by a Good Samaritan. The GPS coordinates provided (N 25*37.041, W 080*05.425) were collected at the time and location where the two occupants were recovered from the water.
  
  According to written statement, he was able to start the vessel's outboard motor. He stated the motor ran for (5) minutes before shutting off.
  
  According to Occupant's written statement, once he realized that the vessel was taking on water, he cut the anchor line. Occupant also stated that once they were in the water, they were able to swim on top of the vessel, until the vessel sank.
  
  Based on Operator and Occupant's statements, I believe that the livewell was possibly overflowing into the bilge of the vessel, and the bilge pumps experienced a machinery failure, ultimately resulting in the vessel becoming swamped by surface waves, capsizing, and sinking. 
  
  This concludes the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's involvement in this Boating Accident investigation.