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NEED TO KNOW
- Three people have died following a catamaran accident on a river in Florida
- Another person who was pulled from the water is in “critical condition,” Lee County Marine Emergency Response Team said
- The incident occurred on Saturday, Nov. 29
Three people have died and another is in critical condition after a catamaran accident on the Caloosahatchee River in Florida.
In a statement on Facebook, the Lee County Marine Emergency Response Team (MERT) shared photos of their search efforts and confirmed the number of fatalities.
“Sad day on the Caloosahatchee River Yesterday evening, a catamaran boat flipped and ejected its four passengers,” officials wrote. “Three victims were removed from the water and only one survived in critical condition.”
The statement added, “After an extensive search and cooperative with Federal, State, and Local agencies, the fourth person was recovered today. Please keep boating fun but safe.”
The incident occurred between Cape Coral and Fort Myers at around 4:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, Nov. 29, according to ABC News, citing the Lee County MERT.
Lee County Marine Emergency Response Team
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PEOPLE has contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the U.S. Coast Guard and Lee County MERT for comment.
While two of the victims were pronounced dead after being pulled from the water, officials told ABC News that the third remained in hospital on Sunday.
A 60-year-old, who had been missing following the accident, was later located and recovered from the water on Sunday, per the outlet, who cited the FWC.
The search was conducted by the Coast Guard, according to the FWC.
Lee County Marine Emergency Response Team
“LCSO is assisting our partners at FWC and the U.S. Coast Guard in the ongoing search for the missing boater. Our Marine Units and Aviation Division are on scene actively supporting search efforts,” the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said in a previous post on Sunday.
Photos shared by the sheriff’s office showed their boat out on the water searching the area surrounded the capsized catamaran.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, according to the Coast Guard, per ABC News.