The recovery came after a 23-year-old man was reported missing from a charter boat near Brickell.
MIAMI, FL — Miami police recovered a body from Biscayne Bay on Sunday morning after a 911 caller reported something floating in the water near Brickell, authorities said.
The discovery came during the search for 23-year-old Akin Liverpool, who police said had last been seen on a charter boat in Biscayne Bay. His family said he had not returned from the trip and later said police told them his body had been found. Authorities had not publicly released a final identification or cause of death by Sunday evening.
Miami police and fire rescue boats were seen working in the bay just south of Brickell Key after the 911 call. The search had begun after officials said Liverpool was believed to have gone into the water while the charter vessel was traveling from the Hobie Beach area toward the Miami River. The U.S. Coast Guard said it was notified at about 11:59 p.m. Friday that a person was missing and suspected to be in the water south of Brickell Key and near Hobie Island Beach Park.
Crews from the Coast Guard, Miami Marine Patrol, Miami Fire Rescue, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Miami Fire Air Rescue joined the search. Miami police also issued a missing person notice Saturday for Liverpool, describing him as 5 feet, 8 inches tall and about 150 pounds, with black hair and dark brown eyes. Police said he was last seen wearing a black shirt and black swimming trunks. The department’s Special Victims Unit was involved in the missing person case before the body was recovered.
Liverpool’s relatives said they were waiting through the weekend for word that he had been found alive. Crystal King, his aunt, described him as “a bundle of joy” and said he was known as a respectful young man who was close to his family. She said relatives were crushed when they learned the search had ended in death. “This is really hard,” King said. Family members said they still wanted to know what happened aboard the charter boat and how Liverpool ended up in the water.
Police dispatch audio described a report from someone on a personal watercraft who saw what appeared to be a body floating near Brickell. Officers were sent to the area of 1541 Brickell Ave., and relatives said the body was found near Brickell Bay Drive. Investigators have not said whether foul play is suspected. They also have not released details about the number of people on the boat, who operated it, whether Liverpool was seen falling overboard or whether anyone tried to rescue him before the search began.
The case is now part of a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigation, according to police. The agency often reviews boating incidents on Florida waters, including fatal cases involving vessels. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to determine the official identity and cause and manner of death. As of Sunday evening, no charges had been announced, and officials had not released a timetable for when more findings may be made public.
Biscayne Bay is one of South Florida’s busiest waterways, bordered by downtown Miami, Brickell, Key Biscayne and Miami Beach. The area near Brickell Key and the Miami River is used by private boats, charter vessels, tour boats and personal watercraft. The recovery drew a large emergency response in a highly visible part of the city, where marine patrol and rescue boats could be seen moving through the water as investigators worked.
Authorities continued to treat the death as an active investigation Sunday night. The next major steps are expected to include official identification, medical examiner findings and any updates from state boating investigators.
Author note: Last updated June 15, 2026.