KENDALL, Fla. — A 20-year-old man was found dead early Saturday following an apparent personal watercraft accident in southwest Miami-Dade County.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said officers were notified around 7 p.m. Friday about a potential missing boater after an unoccupied personal watercraft was found in a canal in Kendall.
FWC officers and local law enforcement searched through the night for the operator.
Authorities confirmed that the man’s body was recovered in the early morning hours of Sept. 27 near Southwest 117th Avenue and Bird Road.
Friends gathered near the shoreline before sunrise Saturday to mourn the young man.
Melanie Saldana said she had planned to ride with the victim that weekend and shared that he loved to Jet Ski and often went alone.
“He loved his Jet Ski. He was fixing the speakers for two whole days,” she said. “I literally told him, ‘Don’t go today. We can go tomorrow with my sister.’”
Saldana said the victim had a kind, genuine heart and was someone who made people laugh and feel comfortable. She said the accident was heartbreaking and expressed hope that his family finds strength during this difficult time.
Authorities have not released additional details about what led to the accident, and the investigation remains ongoing.
FWC officials said a full report will be available upon request at the conclusion of the investigation.
The victim’s identity has not yet been released by the FWC.
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