MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) –A group of good Samaritans stepped in to help Cuban migrants who came ashore in Miami Beach Monday morning – a sight tourists and residents did not expect.
The group came ashore sometime around 10 a.m. on the sands of South Pointe Park.
Chopper 4 was over the scene where six migrants could be seen on the beach next to a small boat with a motor in the middle.
The migrants told the people who rushed to greet them that they had been at sea for 11 days and had run out of food and water. As soon as they arrived, people on the beach jumped into action immediately to help them.
“We saw the boat and we saw the people coming off it and so we walked down and they were coming toward us and they looked remarkably strong, frail but strong,” said Maria Ashe. “I just got this urge to just shake one of their hands and say welcome and he just smiled and I was so happy but they made it.”
“They were just very grateful and someone starts asking for help. People brought them water, started calling their families and as a Cuban-American it was really emotional for me. For some of us, we were crying as we were helping at the same time,” said Mercedes Martin.
In addition to good Samaritans, police arrived on scene very quickly, as did employees from the city’s parks department.
One man gave the migrants money, and one of the migrants gave him a religious symbol, a figurine of la Virgen De Caridad as a thank you for his generosity.
According to Miami Beach Police, the migrants are in good health.
Border Patrol had not confirmed the migrants are Cuban though that is what they told the people as soon as they landed.
At last check, the migrants were at Miami Beach Police Headquarters being processed. If they are Cuban, they will be allowed to stay in South Florida.
