Columbus Day Regatta turns dangerous for some boaters

MIAMI (WSVN) -- A day on the water proved dangerous for several boaters enjoying the annual Columbus Day Regatta Saturday.

One group of boaters survived a scare when their boat capsized, while a woman at another scene was injured by a propeller.

At the first scene, a group of 12 boaters were enjoying the holiday weekend on Biscayne Bay when their boat overturned. "We capsized, and we all fell over. We fell over into the ocean, and the boat was done," said Llisa Kalman.

The boaters said they are lucky they were not injured. "Some of us were underneath like literally, like felt the boat on top of us, like we couldn't get out of it, and some of us were like on top of the boat originally, and so they fell over, and we were just in the open water," said Dana Kalman. "Other people that saw what happened, took us on their boat."

Rescue crews rushed to their aid, and no one was seriously injured. But at the other scene paramedics had to airlift one woman to Jackson Memorial Hospital after she was injured by a propeller off Elliott Key.

Law enforcement officials had beefed up their presence on the water as thousands of boaters took out their boats for the Columbus Day holiday weekend. Officials spent time patrolling the water, making sure people were following the rules. "We are just on routine patrol, doing the best we can with what we've got," said Bobby Dube of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Officials plan on having extra enforcement out on Columbus Day, Monday. If you get caught breaking the law, you could face some heavy fines and some jail time.

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