Watercraft Accident Claims a Life
A Miami-Dade man is dead after a tragic watercraft accident late Thursday evening.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue divers recovered the body of 49-year-old Adam Quiles, from a Northwest Miami-Dade lake, Friday morning. Quiles went missing after he was thrown into the lake while riding a personal watercraft with friends and family on Fourth of July.
According to his family, shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday, they saw Quiles stand up on his jet ski and fall into the water. Quiles’ son Brandon said, “I saw him struggling, so I just went from there and jumped off. But, at that point, I didn’t think it was an emergency. I just wanted to swim. I ended up going over there, and then when I started swimming, my sisters and mom started freaking out saying, ‘Look, something is wrong, he is drowning!’ And I look towards him, and I see him struggling, and I just can’t believe what I am seeing. My dad, he is in shape, going under water? I don’t know what happened. He must have had a cramp or a heart attack, but I don’t know if he had a heart attack because he yelled out, ‘Brandon, Brandon!’ and then he went under. I swam as fast as I can, but it wasn’t fast enough, and my dad just went under.”
Rescue crews shifted their efforts on Thursday night from a rescue endeavor to a recovery mission since so much time had transpired since the victim had fallen into the water. They continued their search for Quiles on Friday morning. His body was discovered Friday, shortly after 11:30 a.m. They said the lake is about 70 feet deep and Quiles was not wearing a life jacket.
Officials said the search had been particularly difficult because they had to work in near darkness, under inclement weather conditions, making it nearly impossible to see in the murky waters of a fairly large body of water.
Quiles was a Miami corrections Officer. He leaves behind three children and a wife.
Spending the day out on the water is a part of summertime fun, especially on a holiday. No one thinks about the potential dangers that can happen in a personal watercraft accident. Boats, jetskis and other motorized watercraft are more powerful than many think. They can injure riders, passengers and swimmers in the water. The speed and maneuverability that make jetskis and other watercraft fun on the water often increase the risk of accidents. A jetski is much like a motorcycle on the water rather than on the road. Research from the University of Florida has shown that Jetski accidents are more common than boating accidents on Florida’s waterways.
Medical costs from waterway accidents can skyrocket. Then there is the consideration of long term care and pain and suffering. You need a good attorney on your side. If you or a loved one has been injured in a jet ski or other watercraft accident, give our offices a call. Our legal professionals have years of experience in the Florida Courts and can help you get what your case is really worth. Our attorneys will go over the details of your case with you and make several recommendations on how to proceed. We will take the time to explain all of your rights and act as your point of contact with insurance companies and other individuals and businesses involved in your lawsuit. The call and initial consultation is free.