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A tragic incident occurred in Miami where a barge struck and sank a sailboat, resulting in the death of a third child nearly a week later, the U.S. Coast Guard reported on Sunday.
The Coast Guard confirmed the passing of a 10-year-old girl, although her identity was not disclosed.
“Our hearts continue to mourn the loss of another child from Miami in last week’s tragic incident,” said Capt. Frank Florio, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Miami.
The 10-year-old victim was identified by former Bal Harbour, Florida mayor Gabriel Groisman as his cousin, Arielle Buchman, in a post on X.
“On a day of mourning in the Jewish calendar, my family grieves the loss of our 10-year-old cousin Arielle, who tragically passed away in a sailboat accident earlier this week,” he shared on Sunday.
All six individuals on the sailboat were rescued after the collision on July 28 in Biscayne Bay, with four children taken to the hospital.
Two of the children, a 7-year-old girl named Mila Yankelevich and 13-year-old Erin Ko Han, were pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. Mila was the granddaughter of Argentinian TV producer Cris Morena, as confirmed by the Argentine Consulate in Miami.
Another 8-year-old girl remains in critical condition, while a 19-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl were rescued without requiring hospitalization.
The cause of the crash has not been determined yet, and salvage operations have commenced.
“The Coast Guard is dedicated to conducting a thorough investigation to uncover all the facts,” Florio stated.
Florio also mentioned in a press conference that the young girls were wearing life vests at the time of the collision.
The tugboat captain’s alcohol level was tested following the crash, as per standard procedure. However, the results of the test and details of the captain’s statement have not been disclosed.
The sailing program, established in 1927, offers summer camps in a secure area at Biscayne Bay, a waterway used for various activities including commercial shipping, recreational boating, sailing camps, and fishing.
Reporting by Sarah Rumpf-Whitten.
