Diners Fall Into Water After N. Bay Village Restaurant Deck Collapse

NORTH BAY VILLAGE (CBS4) - Dozens of people fell into Biscayne Bay Thursday night after a section of a restaurant patio collapsed in North Bay Village.

Witnesses say people were dining and watching the Heat game at Shuckers Bar & Grill at 1819 79th Street Causeway when the structure below them gave way.

Leah Masters, a hostess at  Shuckers told CBS4 News that people had just gotten to their feet to cheer a Heat basket when the deck collapsed. Masters said several patrons jumped into the water to help those who had fallen in.

Miami Fire Rescue spokesperson Lt. Iggy Carroll said up to 100 people fell into the water. Of those,  33 people were hurt, with 24 being transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital and North Shore Medical Center. Two of those victims were in critical condition.

CBS4's Brian Andrews reports the entire deck has collapsed and the Coast Guard has been called in to rescue people in the water. Several divers also got into the water looking for victims.

"We will continue to do whatever we can to assist during this incident," said Cmdr. Darren Caprara, Coast Guard Sector Miami chief of response. "We are fortunate to have strong interagency relationships and are poised to continue to assist our local agency partners as needed."