10 Haitian Boat People Killed off Boyton Beach on Florida Coast

by Tina Kells | May 13, 2009 at 03:28 pm

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At least 10 would be illegal immigrants fleeing Haiti to the United States were killed May 13, 2009 when the boat they were on capsized off the Florida coast. The boat was carrying 28 Haitian refugees when it flipped over in the waters outside of Boyton Beach, 100 kms north of Miami, Florida.

The US Coast Guard reports that more lives would have been lost if not for the quick action of an unidentified "Good Samaritan" who rescued more than a dozen Haitians from the water. The bodies of 10 of the Haitian passengers who could not be rescued have been retrieved from the ocean.

The investigation continues.

A "good Samaritan" was able to rescue three of the victims, US Coast Guard spokeswoman Marilyn Fajardo said.

Three Coast Guard vessels, two helicopters and a small plane were called in to search the area, and plucked another 14 people to safety.

Coastguards also pulled the bodies of 10 people, who had apparently drowned before they could be rescued, from the water.

"They are immigrants from Haiti," said Fajardo who added that it appeared they were trying to enter the US illegally, from the Bahamas.