MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — One person is dead and five people are still missing after a boat overturned more than 20 miles off the St. Lucie Inlet.
Coast Guard crews reportedly rescued four people from the boat on Sunday after a good Samaritan reported the incident.
On Monday, the Martin County Sheriff's Office identified three survivors as 26-year-old Edna Fortulien of Haiti, 38-year-old Anthony Rosario, of the Dominican Republic, and 55-year-old Edwin Paula, of the Dominican Republic. The fourth survivor is a 17-year-old from Haiti, who is not being named due to their age.
The sheriff's office said the survivors are being treated for exposure and serious sunburns for being out on the water for days. The agency believes they will be returned to their countries after they are released from the hospital.
WATCH BELOW: 5 still missing after fatal boat incident off Martin County
The group was found clinging to a capsized vessel approximately 22 miles offshore, according to a post on the Martin County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.
According to one survivor, the vessel left the Bahamas nine days ago, and the boat capsized three days ago. According to the survivor, five of the boat's occupants drowned when the boat capsized.
Of the four rescued, three of the patients have non-life-threatening injuries, and one patient has serious injuries.
#BREAKING @USCG crews rescued 4 people from a capsized vessel, Sun., approx. 29 miles off St. Lucie Inlet after a good Samaritan reported the incident. A person on board reported the vessel capsized Fri. and an additional 5 people are still missing. The search is ongoing. #SAR pic.twitter.com/R4dc16kyRZ
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) April 13, 2025
The Coast Guard was told by one of the people on board that the vessel overturned on Friday. They confirmed the vessel departed from the Bahamas.
Authorities continued their search Sunday for the missing boaters but have since ended it as of Monday.
WPTV reporter Zitlali Solache spoke with nearby beachgoers who witnessed the scene.
🚨 The US Coast Guard was on site of a capsized vessel, located 22 miles offshore, just before 10 am.
— Martin County Fire Rescue (@MartinCountyFR) April 13, 2025
5 occupants were located, 1 of whom was deceased. 4 were transported for further evaluation.
Our units received those four patients via helicopter at the Stuart Airport. pic.twitter.com/K0tYJQ7qnc
"I saw a Coast Guard helicopter flying overhead," said Graham Marshall. "It was just going up and down the beach, and I kind of thought it might have been just looking around."
Some believe the water conditions may have led to the incident.
“When that stuff happens, when you're 30 miles off the coast, you need to be prepared for that kind of stuff. You're too far from anything," said Cody Dubord. "I don’t know if they just weren’t prepared or what happened, but there were lives lost that day."
