Battered sailboat carrying 101 Haitian migrants lands on South Broward beach
By Macollvie Jean-Francois, Marlene Naanes & Lou Toman
sun-sentinel.com
HOLLYWOOD – Officials said more than 100 Haitians migrants aboard a wooden fishing boat landed on the city’s southern beach Wednesday morning. At least nine were hospitalized and at least one person died in the crossing.
The dilapidated 30- to 35-foot single-mast sailboat ran aground a short distance north of Hallandale Beach Boulevard and A1A shortly before 7 a.m. The rickety boat and its human cargo quickly drew a crowd of onlookers.
TV cameras showed a number of passengers jumping into the rough surf and swimming a short distance to the nearby shore. Some appeared weak, disoriented and seasick.
All were taken to a nearby Hallandale Beach fire station where officials said they counted 101 people, including at least two teenagers and one 10-year-old.The body of one man washed ashore nearby. Officials said they believed he drowned.
“Our condolences go out to anyone who was on the boat who actually knew the individual,” said Zach Mann, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Miami.
Each of the surviving migrants was being checked by paramedics and at least nine were in serious enough condition that they were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital for treatment.