At Least 20 Taken To Hospital After Party Near Key Biscayne
KEY BISCAYNE (CBSMiami) – A chaotic scene broke out overnight at a party off Key Biscayne after a number of people became unconscious.
It all happened at the Miami Cooler Wet Fete party located at Bayside Hut at 3501 Rickenbacker Causeway, according to Miami Fire Rescue.
Officers said there were at least 20 rescues reported at the scene. Patients were allegedly scattered over Bayside Hut, Marine Stadium, and the parking lot in between both locations.
Ambulances lined the road as paramedics loaded one person after another onto stretchers headed to the hospital.
"It was just a summertime party just everyone having fun," said Kurtis Rodriques.
Some patients were treated at the venue while some were taken to hospitals as far as Pembroke Pines.
Multiple people were even put into the same rescue vehicles and taken to the hospital.
Ambulances lined the road as paramedics loaded one person after another onto stretchers headed to the hospital.
Some people at the party posted videos and pictures on social media seemingly having fun, but paramedics said about two dozen ended up unconscious, injured, or otherwise ill.
"We transported about 20-25 patients to area hospitals and there's many who got transported on their own as well," said Captain David Duthil with Miami Fire Rescue.
"It appeared mainly it was alcohol and drug use," he added.
Police say a number of those taken to the hospital were minors.
A flyer for the event said attendees must be 18 to get in and 21 to drink and urged everyone to "be your own bartender, bring your own liquor".
"Too many people drank too much alcohol," said Rodriques.
"Everyone got wasted basically," added Christine Amos.
"We're not sure what the main factors were whether it was drugs and alcohol we had reports of both we had people admitting they did both we had partygoers walking around with bottles of 1.75 liter magnum bottles of vodka and Johnny Walker and Hennessy and so on so forth," said Captain David Duthil with Miami Fire Rescue.
Sunday morning, after the event, people who live nearby say there was lots of clean up left to do.
"I arrived here at noon the entire parking lot was filled with bottles and debris," said Daryl Johnson who lives on Key Biscayne.
Firefighters said this isn't the first time they've been called out to the event and they think there may be changes on the way.
"Speaking to the building manager this morning, they expected 500 they ended up with more, but they're definitely going to revisit and speak with the promoter to see what happened and how all this could have been prevented," said Lt. Ignatius Carroll with Miami Fire Rescue.
CBS4 attempted to reach the event organizer by phone and email but did not receive a response.
Watch Maggie Newland's report, click here.
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