Multiple people were rescued after an airboat overturned in the Florida Everglades in western Miami-Dade when the operator, who was later arrested, made a sharp turn to see an alligator. NBC6’s Jamie Guirola reports
Multiple people were rescued after an airboat overturned in the Florida Everglades in western Miami-Dade when the operator, who was later arrested, made a sharp turn to see an alligator.
The incident happened in the area of Coopertown, off Tamiami Trail.
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WATCH HERE"So the driver tried to do a sharp U-turn to go see an alligator, he took the turn too sharp, some water went into the boat, and it flipped over," a passenger said.
The operator, an employee of Coopertown Airboat Rides, was arrested for not having proof of completion of a boating safety course nor a captain's license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officials said. His identity wasn't released.
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Footage from Chopper 6 showed the airboat on its side, partially submerged in water. Photos showed passengers standing on top of the airboat waiting for help after it flipped.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials said they received reports that people ended up in the water but said everyone was out of the water.
Some of the passengers said they were rescued about 10 minutes after the boat flipped.
"At first scary, my first thought was about my wife and family members and then I thought about the alligator that was nearby," one passenger said.
One person was injured but wouldn't need to be hospitalized, officials said. Others had scratches and walked away soaked in water, but fortunately nothing worse, especially knowing alligators were close by.
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Footage showed multiple fire rescue trucks at Coopertown, along with police.
No other information was immediately known.
