Boat Capsizes Near St. Lucie Inlet: Four Rescued, One Dead, Five Still Missing

The U.S. Coast Guard is actively searching for five individuals who remain missing following the capsizing of a small vessel off the coast of Florida. The tragic incident occurred on April 11, approximately 29 miles east of St. Lucie Inlet, and has already claimed at least one life. The Coast Guard launched a multi-day rescue operation that has, so far, resulted in the successful recovery of four survivors. Officials confirmed that the capsized vessel, approximately 25 feet in length, had departed from the Bahamas before encountering trouble in U.S. waters. A good Samaritan alerted the Coast Guard to the capsized boat, prompting a swift response from the Seventh Coast Guard District and associated rescue teams.

Survivors Found, But Five Remain Unaccounted For

According to reports, the Coast Guard rescued four individuals on April 13—two days after the incident. One of the rescued survivors informed authorities that five additional people were aboard the vessel when it capsized. That information launched an intensive search-and-rescue effort across the area surrounding the site of the accident. The survivors were airlifted from the scene via Coast Guard helicopter and transferred to awaiting medical personnel. Martin County Fire Rescue later confirmed that three of the four rescued individuals suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while one person sustained more serious injuries and was hospitalized. In addition, authorities confirmed that at least one person aboard the boat died during the ordeal.

Coast Guard Vows to Continue Search Efforts

The U.S. Coast Guard emphasized that search efforts are still underway and that operations like this are conducted on a case-by-case basis. Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg explained that several factors are taken into account when determining the length and scope of a search—including drift patterns, water temperature, and the amount of time that has passed since the initial notification. “The length of Coast Guard search efforts is always on a case-by-case basis considering a variety of factors including drift patterns, water temperature, and time since notification,” Strasburg stated in an email to TCPalm. The Coast Guard has continued to share updates and images from the operation on its official social media channels, particularly the X platform (formerly Twitter), where the original rescue announcement and photo of the capsized vessel were posted.

Ongoing Investigation and Public Vigilance

As of the latest update, the identities of the missing individuals have not been released, and details about the purpose of the voyage from the Bahamas to Florida remain unclear. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and to report any sightings or useful information that might assist in the ongoing search. Authorities have reached out to the Coast Guard for further updates, and more information is expected to be shared as the investigation continues. In the meantime, the families of the missing wait anxiously for news, while rescue crews race against time in the hopes of finding survivors.