33 Cuban migrants intercepted at sea; 1 man dies

KEY LARGO, Fla. (AP) -- Federal authorities are investigating how a Cuban migrant headed for the US died from a head injury.

Customs and Border Protection officials intercepted three boats carrying 33 Cuban migrants and 7 alleged smugglers in the waters south of Key Largo late Tuesday night. Coast Guard authorities boarded the boat shortly after and discovered that one of the migrants -- an adult man -- had a severe head injury.

A helicopter airlifted the man to the Opa Locka airport, where waiting paramedics pronounced him dead.

The other 39 people, including the alleged smugglers, are on board Coast Guard cutters while federal authorities investigate.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)