South Floridians Question Safety around Government Cut Jetty

Three days after the tragic death of three South Floridians at Government Cut, area residents are questioning the safety of the popular boating location.

Many will recognize Government Cut as the spot where Miami Marlins Pitcher Jose Fernandez died along with two of his friends in 2016. The group was boating after dark when they ran into a rocky outcropping at Government Cut, flipping the vessel and killing all aboard. After this weekend’s tragedy, which not only killed three but left another person in critical condition, some are questioning why authorities have not done something to make Government Cut safer to traverse.

After Fernandez’s death, Miami’s mayor Carlos Gimenez called for the U.S. Coast Guard to illuminate the area so that boaters could better navigate it. But after studying the location, the Coast Guard determined that the existing markers were sufficient.

Located off South Beach, Government Cut is one of two channels in Miami-Dade that leads from the bay to the ocean. 

Over the years there have been a number of crashes into the jetty.