12 Cuban migrants rescued off Key Biscayne

Boat contained paddleboards, life jackets, beef, crackers

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. ā€“ Twelve migrants were rescued off the coast of Key Biscayne on Wednesday, U.S. Coast Guard officials confirmed.

The small raft carrying the migrants, which officials said originated from Cuba, was approached by rescue boats from the Coast Guard and the city of Miami.

Sylvia Figueroa, who lives nearby, said she was walking along the beach when she saw the migrants being rescued.

"One tried to swim, but it seems that he didn't make it," Figueroa said.

That 24-year-old man was taken to a hospital, suffering from exhaustion.

A look inside the boat revealed the migrants were ready for a long voyage. There was a makeshift engine. In case it failed, there were paddle boards and some life jackets as well. They were also carrying cans of beef and two bags filled with crackers.

Some of those rescued from the boat told rescuers they had been at sea for five days.

"These people, they must have a lot of desire, a lot of needs, a lot of things that they want to come to a beautiful country like this is," Alejandro Diaz said.

Figueroa, who was born in Havana and migrated to the United States decades ago, said she can relate to their struggle.

"They must have had so much hope to get here," Figueroa said.

She said a person doesn't have to be Cuban to understand.

"If you go and see that, then you have to relate to that and your heart goes out to them," Figueroa said.

Typically, Cubans who make it to shore are allowed to stay, while those who are intercepted are returned under the "wet foot, dry foot" policy.

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Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.