Image Source: ABC7 New York
The liberty island charter boat capsize turned a late-night birthday celebration into a devastating tragedy, leaving a 5-month-old girl and her 27-year-old mother dead. The boat overturned off Liberty Island at approximately 10:20 p.m. Saturday, according to officials.
The victims were identified as 5-month-old Antonella Garcia and 27-year-old Sara Sanchez. Both were pulled from the water and taken to NYU Langone Brooklyn in critical condition. They were later pronounced dead.
Shocking Liberty Island Charter Boat Capsize Leaves Mother and Infant Dead
The U.S. Coast Guard said the two passengers who died were a mother and child. Police initially said it was not immediately clear whether the victims were related. However, the employer of Sanchez’s husband told ABC7 New York that the couple’s infant daughter had been on the boat with them.
The family lived in College Point, Queens, and had moved to the United States from Colombia. Their six-year-old son was with a sitter when the group went out Saturday night. According to the family’s employer, the adults on board were church friends celebrating a birthday.
The surviving father was also on the boat and reportedly escaped the capsizing. His employer described him as inconsolable and said the family had no other relatives in the United States. A fundraiser has been organized to help him and his children cope with the sudden loss.
Desperate Water Rescue Unfolded Near Liberty Island
The boat overturning triggered a major emergency response. FDNY and NYPD Harbor units, along with scuba and aviation teams, rushed to the scene as rescuers searched the dark waters surrounding Liberty Island.
Witness Madeline Hunter described seeing ambulances, firefighters and emergency boats moving rapidly near the island.
“I saw a lot of ambulances, firefighters, and then I saw that there were boats here,” Hunter said. “And then people were just saying that there was a mother and a child that needed to be rescued from the water and that they were found.”
Twelve additional passengers were rescued and taken to hospitals. Officials said those passengers suffered minor injuries. The rescue operation involved multiple agencies and continued as emergency crews worked to account for everyone aboard.
Operator Arrested as Investigators Examine Possible Illegal Charter
Authorities identified the vessel as a 22-foot bowrider power boat. Boats of that type typically hold between 10 and 12 people, raising questions about the number of passengers and the conditions during the trip.
Manuel Hernandez, 46, of Manhattan, was arrested and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment. The charges relate to the passengers aboard the vessel, though the investigation remains active and additional findings could affect the case.
The Coast Guard is also examining whether the trip may have been operating as an illegal charter. Investigators from the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Investigative Service and the NYPD are working to determine what caused the fatal capsizing and whether safety rules were violated.
- The vessel overturned around 10:20 p.m. Saturday.
- Two passengers, a mother and infant, died after being transported to a Brooklyn hospital.
- Twelve other passengers were rescued with minor injuries.
- The boat was identified as a 22-foot bowrider power boat.
- Operator Manuel Hernandez faces 13 reckless endangerment counts.
- Authorities are investigating whether the trip was an illegal charter.
Queens Community Mourns a Devastated Family
Neighbors in College Point expressed shock and grief after learning of Sanchez’s death. Diego Naranjo offered condolences to the family and said he hoped the victims would rest in peace.
The tragedy has also renewed attention on passenger safety, vessel capacity and oversight of private boat excursions in New York waterways. Investigators will likely examine the boat’s condition, passenger count, operating arrangements, weather and water conditions, and the operator’s qualifications.
For now, the family is facing the loss of a mother and infant while caring for a young child and supporting the surviving father. The investigation into the Liberty Island boat accident remains ongoing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Liberty Island boat accident?
A 22-foot bowrider power boat overturned off Liberty Island around 10:20 p.m. Saturday. Emergency crews rescued 14 people from the water, but a mother and her 5-month-old daughter later died.
Who were the victims?
Officials identified the victims as 27-year-old Sara Sanchez and 5-month-old Antonella Garcia. Sanchez lived in College Point, Queens, and her family was originally from Colombia.
How many people survived the boat capsizing?
Twelve other passengers were rescued and taken to hospitals with minor injuries. Sanchez’s husband also survived the incident.
Who was arrested after the capsizing?
Manuel Hernandez, 46, of Manhattan, was arrested and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment. The investigation is continuing.
Was the boat operating as an illegal charter?
The Coast Guard is investigating whether the trip may have been operating as an illegal charter. Officials have not announced a final determination.
