3 Killed and 1 in Critical Condition After Catamaran Flips Over and ‘Ejects’ Passengers

Three people were killed and another is fighting for their life after a catamaran capsized on the Caloosahatchee River in Florida over the weekend.

The deadly accident happened around 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, between Cape Coral and Fort Myers. According to the Lee County Marine Emergency Response Team (MERT), the boat flipped suddenly and threw all four passengers into the water.

In a Facebook post, officials called it a “sad day on the Caloosahatchee River,” confirming that three victims were pulled from the water shortly after the accident. Only one survived and remains in critical condition. After an overnight search involving local, state, and federal agencies, the fourth passenger—a 60-year-old who had been missing—was recovered on Sunday.

Photos shared by MERT and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office show boats, rescue crews, and aviation units sweeping the river for hours as they searched around the overturned catamaran.

“Please keep boating fun but safe,” the MERT statement urged.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the U.S. Coast Guard, and Lee County deputies all took part in the search. FWC confirmed that two victims were pronounced dead shortly after being pulled from the water, while the third victim died later at the hospital.

The Coast Guard told ABC News that the cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Authorities have not released the identities of the four people involved.