A luxury yacht packed with social media influencers began sinking and eventually capsized off the coast of Miami Beach, prompting a dramatic rescue by the Coast Guard.
The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, near Monument Island. According to the Coast Guard’s Southeast division, crews responded to distress calls reporting that a 63-foot yacht was rapidly taking on water per PEOPLE.
Local agencies, including the Miami Beach Police Marine Patrol, joined the rescue effort. WSVN reported that along with law enforcement, a private boater nearby also aided in evacuating passengers.
All 32 individuals on board were brought safely to shore without injuries.
Several passengers onboard the yacht captured and shared dramatic footage on social media as the vessel began to flood. In the videos, some could be seen scrambling to rescue valuable items like laptops, expensive tequila and designer bags, while one person shouted jokingly, “Women and children first!” amid the chaos.
“We were just on the boat and we saw a bunch of cops, police boats, and there was another yacht that was flipped over completely vertically in the water,” witness Rachael Miller told CBS News Miami.
“It was vertical,” Miller added. “It was straight up in the water. It definitely didn’t look ordinary, and it’s just very concerning.”
Social media videos captured several young women snapping selfies and filming as they watched their luxury yacht sink from a distance.
“Everyone on the sinking yacht taking selfies. No f–ks given,” one Instagram user remarked, calling out the group’s nonchalant behavior, according to the New York Post.
The upscale vessel began to go under near Florida’s exclusive Star Island around 5 p.m., tilting nearly vertical as all 32 passengers and crew scrambled to safety, the Coast Guard reported.
Some of the aspiring influencers treated the near-disaster as content gold, sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of their chaotic escape.
The Tecnomar is part of an exclusive fleet of just 11 luxury yachts crafted by the prestigious Italian automaker.
Among the elite owners is former MMA star Conor McGregor, who purchased his model for $3.6 million in 2021 per the New York Post.
According to WSVN, all 32 rescued passengers were safely taken to Miami Beach Marina following the incident.
