Man airlifted after jumping off boat, hitting head near Haulover Sandbar

Witnesses say man didn't see sand beneath shallow water after jumping off boat

MIAMI – A day out on the water turned disastrous for one couple.

"He didn't see it. It's not so deep," said Jose Leonarte.

According to witnesses, what one man didn't see was the sand beneath the shallow water when he jumped off his boat Sunday afternoon near Haulover Sandbar.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded after calls came in that he hit is head and couldn't feel his legs.

"I didn't see the guy moving, so I don't know if he was conscious or not," said Leonarte.

His condition was serious enough that he had to be airlifted to the hospital.

"The helicopter came, air rescue came. I said, 'What's going on?'" said Leonarte.

It was a startling situation Leonarte said he can relate to.

"It happened to me one time and let me tell you, it's not easy. It's not good to do that. You might lose your head. You might be unconscious or get hurt very badly," Leonarte said.

The victim is currently being treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital. His condition is unknown at this time.