Child airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital after personal watercraft accident

Personal watercraft crashed into parked boat, FWC reports

AVENTURA, Fla. – A child was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital Friday after a personal watercraft accident off the coast of Aventura, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said.

The incident was reported about 11:45 a.m. in the area near the 3000 block of Northeast 190th Street.

An FWC representative said the personal watercraft, which was being ridden by an adult and child, collided with a parked boat.

According to authorities, a family was on their yacht when their 4-year-old son went for a ride on a WaveRunner with one of their employees.

Authorities said the man was doing loops in the water with the boy in the front of the WaveRunner. They said he accelerated while making a turn and slammed into a parked boat.

"They are stating that they were driving a little carelessly in this canal and were doing several circles and loopy loops and having fun, which is OK if you're not in an area where there's other things surrounding you," FWC spokesman Lorenzo Veloz said. "If you're out in the open ocean it's fine because you can fall off and get back on, but when you're doing this in a canal, it's not the safest thing to do."

The boy was knocked unconscious into the water after striking the boat face-first, authorities said.

No other injuries were reported.

The boy is being treated at Ryder Trauma Center and might have to undergo surgery. Authorities said he is alert and stable.

"As of right now, he may need surgery," Veloz said. "He does have a cracked orbital over his left eye on both sides of the orbital. It comes across the top and across the bottom. Obviously, for that type of impact and that type of injury it was very traumatic."


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