Cris Morena with her son and granddaughter. | Photo: instagram.com/bycrismorena
The boat where Cris Morena’s granddaughter died: 3 shocking details that drove users crazy — What they discovered about the sailboat trip
The tragedy occurred in Miami Beach and was shocking both for the identity of the victims and the circumstances of the accident. Mila Yankelevich, Cris Morena’s seven-year-old granddaughter, died after a collision between a sailboat and a barge while she was participating in a children’s nautical camp.
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Another 13-year-old girl died in the same accident, and two more girls remain hospitalized in critical condition. The instructor on board and a fifth girl, 12, were rescued alive and are out of danger.
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A 19-year-old girl was in charge of the group
According to authorities and media present, the person leading the sailing was a 19-year-old instructor . She was accompanying five girls between the ages of 7 and 13 as part of an outing organized by the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation.
The sailboat departed at 11:15 a.m. from the Miami Yacht Club on Watson Island. Shortly after, the barge struck it head-on off Hibiscus Island, causing all onboard to be thrown into the sea. The instructor survived the impact and was brought ashore along with one of the girls, although four other minors required urgent medical attention.
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The fact that a 19-year-old girl was in charge of such a small and vulnerable group sparked a strong reaction on social media. One user wrote : “Five minors with a 19-year-old girl on a sailboat? Oh my God, how crazy.”
Another commented : “I don’t understand how they can send little kids with a 19-year-old girl. They pay for it anyway, the kids pay for parental mistakes. ” Another comment read : “Stop trusting your children to just anyone. A 19-year-old teacher in charge of five minors. This isn’t an accident, it’s negligence.”
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Life jackets, at the center of doubts
One of the most frequently asked questions after the release of videos of the accident and the recovery of the bodies was whether the children were wearing life jackets. An image posted on social media by the foundation days before the accident showed children wearing life jackets while receiving theoretical lessons, but doubts arose as to whether they were wearing them at the time of the accident.
However, many users expressed concern. Comments included : ” And the life jackets? Did they put them on? How sad, my God… poor things,” “Weren’t they wearing life jackets?” and “They weren’t wearing life jackets, I’m just asking… what a tragedy.” These concerns were amplified by the circulation of images and testimonies from witnesses who witnessed the rescue from the shore.
The unusual way the sailboat and the barge collided
The moment of impact was recorded by a security camera located in Biscayne Bay. The images showed how the large barge slowly but steadily approached the sailboat, striking it head-on and causing it to sink.
A 9-year-old eyewitness, Enzo Piffaretti, told a local outlet: “It was a large garbage can (barge), and the escape boat (sailboat) was in front of it. The boat wasn’t paying attention, it crashed right into them and everyone was thrown off the boat. Two were found very quickly, and three of them had to go to the hospital.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported that the collision occurred between Monument and Hibiscus Islands and confirmed that the sailboat was completely submerged. The barge’s captain is under investigation, although it has not been officially reported whether the navigation area was marked or if either vessel had right of way.
Former Miami Yacht Club race committee president Katie Flood-Reiss explained that it was impossible to turn the boat in those conditions : “In those conditions, with almost no wind, it would be impossible to turn that boat quickly.” Similarly, a local journalist noted that “the barge doesn’t even attempt to slow down, even though the boat is a very visible color.”
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Social media users also reacted with surprise and outrage at the lack of maneuvering: “Did the person driving the sailboat not see that barge?” one user asked. Another wrote: “ How could they not see it? I bet they were coming (…) with their cell phones. You can’t miss the sailboat.” Another comment stated : “The sailboat was anchored where they assigned it. The barge was going fast and straight ahead, and it didn’t see it. It’s considered homicide in the United States.”
The full report from the U.S. Coast Guard, which has taken over the investigation, is still awaited. Authorities have confirmed that the barge’s captain will be questioned and that all images and testimony are being analyzed to clarify what happened
