Boat ejection in biscayne bay: one dead, one injured

A tragic incident in Biscayne Bay on Saturday resulted in the death of a woman and injury to a man after they were thrown from a boat and struck by the unmanned vessel. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is investigating.

Florida authorities investigate boat incident

The incident occurred around 10:40 a.m. Saturday, west of West Point, involving a 27-foot boat carrying Neil D. Schwabe, 54, of Coconut Grove, and Caludia Balmaseda Orellanes, 33, of Coral Gables. According to the FWC, both individuals were ejected into the water and subsequently struck by the unoccupied boat.

Schwabe was airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center with a leg injury, while Balmaseda Orellanes was recovered deceased. The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

This is the second fatal boating incident in Biscayne Bay in less than a week. On March 25, Davide Veglia, 55, of North Miami, and his 14-year-old son were injured when their dinghy was struck by a vessel that fled the scene. The search for that vessel is ongoing.

“We heard help, help, help, and when he started screaming for help, that is when we knew it was a serious situation,” said witness Enzo Avelino. He described the son struggling in the water, supporting his father.

The FWC has not released further details, and the investigation is ongoing. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in boating, even in seemingly calm waters.