Accidents of the Week - June 21, 2025
Boat Fire Destroys 6 Boats, Causes $100M in Damages
6/6/25 – Sunny Isles Beach, FL
A boat fire that blazed early morning on 6 June in Sunny Isles Beach Marina destroyed six large boats and two personal watercraft, officials said.
The fire caused upwards of $100 million in damages. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials said the fire started on a single boat before spreading to several other vessels.
Local reporters captured the scene on 9 June, while clean-up was underway, with debris and firefighting foam still littering the marina.
Boy, Uncle Rescued from Sinking Kayak
6/10/25 – Cheboygan Co., MI
A boy and his uncle whose kayak began to sink on north Michigan’s Mullett Lake on the morning of 10 June were safe and sound thanks to quick response by first responders and the use of life jackets.
The Cheboygan County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded after the two called for help when the uncle's kayak began to sink.
Responders arrived and within 15 minutes, both the 13-year-old and his uncle were safely removed from the water.
Crews Save Brothers Stranded After Kayaks Overturn
6/7/25 – Narragansett, RI
Two brothers were grateful to be alive after their kayaking trip in Narragansett, Rhode Island, took a turn for the worse on 7 June.
The Narragansett Fire Department said their boats flipped over, leaving them clinging to rocks for at least two hours without a way to call for help. Captain Charles Lacoste said the brothers were only able to grab one life jacket, and as the tide was moving in, their situation became dire.
“The rock was going to be submerged at high tide, so they knew that they were losing ground,” Lacoste said. “At one point, they weren’t sure if they were going to make it. One handed off the life jacket to his brother to try and ensure that he could hang on as long as possible.”
Around 9:40 p.m., a fisherman called 911 after one of the kayaks washed ashore along with a shoe. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force then began a search.
‘Risk a Lot, Save a Lot’ Situation
Rescuers said conditions that night were not ideal: it was dark and rainy, and the surf was rough.
“We normally do not operate our jet ski during nighttime hours. However, this was a ‘risk a lot, save a lot’ type of situation,” Lacoste said. Rescue swimmers were able to get both brothers safely to shore.
The Narragansett Fire Department said it was their third water rescue of the day, which is why they were reminding everyone to be prepared as beach season picked up.
Man Narrowly Escapes Raging Fire on Sailboat
5/16/25 – Lake Worth, FL
A man narrowly escaped injury after his sailboat caught fire in Florida’s Lake Worth Beach early morning on 16 May.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR) said the boat caught fire near the Lake Worth Bridge around 1:30 a.m., lighting up the early morning darkness in Lake Worth Beach.
PBCFR said the boat's owner — who was aboard at the time — managed to escape unharmed. The Red Cross was contacted to assist him in the aftermath.
Despite the intensity of the fire, another nearby boat remained undamaged, according to PBCFR.
Wildlife Officers Find Body of Missing Boater
6/8/25 – Jefferson Co., TN
A 22-year-old man who went missing on Tennessee’s Douglas Lake on the afternoon of 8 June became the 11th boating death in the state this year.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) reported on 10 June that the body of David Molina had been located after a days-long search in the Muddy Creek Area.
The Carter County Rescue Squad, which was helping in the search, first spotted Molina’s body using an underwater sonar system. His body was later recovered in more than 80 feet of water.
“TWRA offers condolences and prayers for Mr. Molina’s family and loved ones during this difficult time‚” the agency’s news release said.
Five Rescued After PWC Overturns on James River
6/7/25 – Suffolk, VA
Five people were rescued after a personal watercraft (PWC) overturned in Virginia’s James River on the night of 7 June.
According to officials, crews with the Suffolk Department of Fire & Rescue responded to reports of an overturned jet ski on the James River.
Fire Boat 1, which was at Harborfest at the time, responded to the scene and was able to bring five people onboard. One person was reported to have a minor foot injury.
45-foot Boat Catches Fire, Sinks Off Key West
4/8/25 – Key West, FL
A boat was anything but ship-shape following a big blaze in the Florida Keys.
According to Key West Police, a vessel caught fire about a mile offshore from Smathers Beach in Key West. Heavy smoke billowed from the 45-foot boat as several crews worked to put it out.
U.S. Coast Guard officials said the vessel submerged. They issued a warning to boaters navigating within Stock Island Channel, calling the boat “a hazard to navigation.”
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remained unclear.
Boat Overturns Near Miami’s Haulover Inlet
6/12/25 – Miami-Dade Co., FL
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) crews responded to reports of an overturned vessel on the afternoon of 12 June on the Intracoastal Waterway, near Haulover Inlet. It happened just off the Haulover Marine Center.
Multiple fire rescue units staged in Haulover Park. An MDFR spokesperson said the boat’s single occupant was “safely” out of the water as of around 5:15 p.m. and was being assessed.
“Divers were deployed to search the perimeter of the vessel’s location out of precaution,” the spokesperson said.
