Jet Ski Accidents

Most Dangerous Excursions on Miami Cruise Vacations

April 15, 2025 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

Exploring thrilling shore excursions can be a highlight of any Miami cruise vacation, and they are popular among passengers of all ages and backgrounds. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), 68 percent of passengers book shore excursions ranging from culinary experiences and walking tours to activities high in the sky and deep in the water. There is a good chance you or a member of your group will consider such an adventure during your cruise.

Unfortunately, not all shore excursions are as safe as they seem. Negligence by cruise lines and tour operators can lead to serious accidents. Even if you did sign a waiver, you may still have legal remedies due to misconduct of other parties. A Miami cruise ship accident lawyer can help you seek compensation if you are injured in various scenarios.

Sight-Seeing – Violence

Lake County Teen Killed in Jet Ski Collision

December 2, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL— December 1, 2011 – A violent Jet Ski collision on Lake County’s Lake Joana resulted in the death of a 14-year-old Mount Dora boy, according to recent reports by the Orlando Sentinel. According to information provided, the violent personal watercraft accident was reported to authorities around 3 p.m. on Nov. 27.

Nicholas Polk and his friend, Ryder Wayne, 15, were riding a Jet Ski on Lake Joana in Eustis, Fla. when something went horribly wrong. The teens were reportedly traveling away from a cove on the lake when they noticed a second watercraft approaching.

Wayne and the operator of the second Jet Ski, 15-year-old Daniel Cole, attempted to swerve away from one another, but to no avail. Reports noted that 15-year-old Robert Rumary was riding on the back of Cole’s PWC at the time as well. All four Jet Ski riders were ejected into the lake on impact.

While Wayne, Cole and Rumary escaped injury in the Lake County boating accident, Polk was not so fortunate. According to investigators from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Polk, who appeared to have sustained a head injury in the Jet Ski crash, eventually succumbed to his wounds.

FWC spokesman Gary Morse told reporters the fatal boat crash investigation is ongoing.

Statistical data provided by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) indicated 668 boat accidents occurred during the year 2010. Those boat crashes and accidents resulted in 79 boating deaths and 389 injuries. Statistics suggest Florida has more boating accidents than any other state in the nation.

Miami Recreational Boat Accident News: Boy, 14, Looses Leg in Florida Jetski Accident

August 4, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL— August 4, 2011 – Accident investigators from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have launched a probe into a recreational boating accident that left a Pinellas County teen hospitalized with critical injuries. According to WTSP 10 News, the young accident victim, who was a passenger on the back of a WaveRunner at the time, was forced to have his leg amputated upon being airlifted to a St. Petersburg hospital.
FWC investigators said 14-year-old John Dahl appeared to be riding backwards on a jetski operated by an unidentified second party when the watercraft suddenly took off at a high rate of speed, prompting him to jump off. Upon doing so, Dahl’s leg became entrapped in the towline that was being used to pull a wakeboarder at the time. It was not clear why the jetski passenger was facing the rear of the personal watercraft (PWC) at the time.
Nearby resident Robert Sapp heard the injured boy’s screams just before his son, Casey, 16, used his own jetski in an attempt to render preliminary aid to the victim. According to Casey Sapp, “When I actually got up next to that boy’s jet ski and saw his leg, it was bad.” Investigations into the injurious jetski accident were expected to be underway.
According to statistics provided by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), jetskis were involved in approximately 22 percent of the 4,730 recreational boating accidents reported nationwide in 2009. Such accidents reportedly resulted in 736 boating deaths.

Two Crash Victims Hospitalized Following Miami-Dade Jet Ski Accident

July 5, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL— July 5, 2011 – A collision involving two personal watercrafts (PWC) landed two people in the hospital on June 3, 2011. WSVN reports stated that the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is conducting a full investigation into the jet ski accident, which occurred off Surfside in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
According to Kelli Denis, who witnessed the jet ski crash, “All of a sudden we see two jetskis flying across– like, really fast. And, they stopped… And they were on the shore and we thought that they were stuck. So, my dad and my friend, Kevin, went over there to see if they were alright.” Denis called 911 following the injurious jet ski accident.

FWC investigators contended the jet ski collision involved two personal watercrafts; one being operated by a woman, the other by a man. Reports indicated both accident victims were flown to Jackson Memorial Hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the jetboat crash. While the male victim did not appear to suffer life-threatening injuries in the wreck, the female victim was taken to the hospital’s trauma unit for treatment.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), 736 boating accident fatalities were recorded during the year 2009. About 22 percent of recreational boating accidents involved personal watercrafts (PWC).

Sean Kingston Jet Ski Crash: Singer Walking, Breathing on His Own After Miami Accident

June 7, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL—June 7, 2011 – Eight days after a violent jet ski crash landed singer Sean Kingston in the hospital with critical injuries, the Miami-born musician’s publicist told reporters he took his first steps and was now breathing on his own. According to information provided by CNN, Kingston had water in his lungs and broke both his jaw and wrist after crashing his personal water craft (PWC) into a Miami Beach bridge on May 31.

While Sean Kingston, 21, remained hospitalized at Jackson Memorial Hospital, his condition was upgraded to “serious” as he began to walk and breathe on his own again. According to sources, it will likely take the singer six weeks to recover from the injuries he sustained in the Miami boating accident.

Authorities from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) told reporters Kingston was operating his Sea Doo jet ski off Miami Beach when it crashed into the Palm Island Bridge. Kingston’s life vest reportedly fell off on impact.

Witness Jonathan Rivera, who was boating with his wife at the time, contended, “I pushed him up, and he was vomiting what seemed like water, and then there was some blood coming out.”

Kingston was rushed to Jackson Memorial’s intensive care unit in critical condition following the jet ski wreck. Cassandra Sanchez, 23, was also riding on the jet boat when it crashed. She was hospitalized with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries in the crash.

Though it was not clear what caused Kingston to lose control of his jet skia full investigation into the injurious boating accident was expected to be underway.

Twenty-two percent of 4,730 recreational boating accidents reported during the year 2009 involved personal watercrafts, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) suggest. Furthermore, boat crashes resulted in 736 fatalities that year.

Singer Sean Kingston Seriously Injured in Miami Beach Jet Ski Crash

June 1, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL—June 1, 2011 – Singer and Miami native Sean Kingston remained hospitalized with serious injuries on May 31, 2011, two days after the jet ski he was operating crashed into a bridge. Officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) stated that both the famed musician and a 23-year-old female passenger suffered injuries in the Miami Beach jet ski crash, as reported by CNN.

According to Joe Carozza, a publicist for Sean Kingston’s record label, Epic Records, “Sean Kingston is currently in critical but stable condition at Ryder Trauma Center at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center… Sean’s family asks for privacy at this time but is thankful to his friends, family and fans for their outpouring of prayers and well wishes.”

While details into the jet ski accident remained somewhat scarce, FWC spokesman Jorge Pino told Associated Press reporters that the 21-year-old R&B singer’s Sea Doo jet ski crashed into the Palm Island Bridge at approximately 6 p.m. on May 29. A female passenger, 23-year-old Cassandra Sanchez was also involved in the jet boat crash. Sanchez sustained undisclosed injuries and was also rushed to the hospital after the watercraft accident. The extent of Kingston’s injuries remained unknown.

Carmen Rivera was boating in the area when Kingston crashed his jet ski into the Miami Bridge. “They were calling us over, telling us, ‘He’s drowning, he’s drowning,’” Rivera said.

Though it was not clear what caused the well-known singer to apparently lose control of his watercraft and crash into the bridge, investigations into the violent Miami Beach jet boat accident were expected to be underway.

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) statistics suggested that during the year 2009, there were 736 boating accident fatalities, with approximately 1 in 4 recreational boating accidents (22 percent of the total count—4,730) involving personal watercrafts (PWC).