According to CBS Miami, this past March, the body of a missing PWC rider was plucked from a lake near Miami International Airport after going missing in the dark two days prior.
“Jose Montes de Oca, 46, went missing in Blue Lagoon Lake,” Lorenzo Veloz, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said. Montes de Oca went out on his friend’s Yamaha WaveRunner FZR SVHO late on a Saturday night from Antonio Maceo Park and never returned.
He was wearing dark clothing and did not have a life vest on. The WaveRunner FZR he was riding on was located jammed into a group of trees soon after his friends realized he was gone.
The FWC and Miami-Dade Marine Patrol Underwater Recovery Team searched the lake Saturday night, Sunday and into Monday. Sidescan Sonar helped find Montes de Oca at about 2:30PM on the Monday afternoon. Veloz said he was found about 25 feet below the surface, not far from where the watercraft was found.
We at The Watercraft Journal share this somewhat belated story with a strong emphasis on safety with our readers. Please don’t let this happen to you. This unfortunate and sad accident could of been easily avoided had the rider 1. not ventured out late in the evening/dark; and 2. simply been wearing the proper safety gear.
Equally, it’s always a good idea to ride in groups or at very least a pair when out on your PWC as well. Be prepared and keep an emergency kit on your watercraft with items such as a GPS, waterproof flare gun and a charged cell phone. And again, always wear a proper fitting life vest. Being prepared and having these simple items could mean the difference of life or death.
