Body Found Near Burning Boat In Hollywood Waterway

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HOLLYWOOD (CBSMiami) - An investigation is underway after a body was found floating near a burning boat in the Intracoastal Waterway in Hollywood.

Several people, like Karen Rochez, grabbed their cell phones and shot video when they noticed the burning boat drifting down the waterway just south of Sheridan Street around 2 a.m.

"There was a small triangle of flame in the back and within about a minute, I got up to grab my phone and call 911," said Rochez. "Within a minute the whole boat was engulfed in flames."

"It's done, it's burnt to a crisp," said boat captain Gino Checchi. "Hopefully no body got hurt."

Hollywood firefighters, with assistance from the Coast Guard, put out the flames on the 22-foot boat.

"Initially I thought if somebody is on there they are in trouble," said Rochez. "But I never saw anyone go in the water. It was dark and there was a lot of very dark, black smoke."

After the fire was out the body a male, thought to be in his mid-40s, was pulled from the water near the boat. It was taken to the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office where it will be identified and a cause of death determined.