A mother and her 5-month-old daughter died after a boat overturned near Liberty Island, while 12 others survived and authorities arrested the operator amid an ongoing investigation.
WEBDESK – HAJIRA IRFAN – NJNEWSLINE
What began as a birthday celebration among church friends ended in unimaginable tragedy Saturday night when a boat overturned near Liberty Island, killing a 27-year-old mother and her five-month-old daughter.
The deadly incident unfolded around 10:20 p.m., sending emergency crews rushing into the water as rescuers searched for passengers from the overturned vessel. Twelve other people were pulled from the water and taken to hospitals with minor injuries.
Mother and Baby Found in Critical Condition
The victims were identified as 27-year-old Sara Sanchez and her five-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia. Both were transported to NYU Langone Brooklyn in critical condition after being rescued. Despite emergency medical efforts, neither survived. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that the two victims were a mother and child, while police initially said it was not immediately clear whether they were related. Sanchez lived in College Point, Queens, where neighbors were left struggling to comprehend the sudden loss. “I’m in shock,” neighbor Diego Naranjo said while offering condolences to the family.
Rescue Operation Unfolds Near Liberty Island
The capsizing triggered a large-scale response involving FDNY and NYPD Harbor units, along with scuba and aviation teams. Witnesses described seeing emergency boats moving rapidly through the area as first responders worked to locate and rescue those in the water. “I saw a lot of ambulances, firefighters, and then I saw that there were boats here,” witness Madeline Hunter said. She recalled hearing that a mother and child were among those who needed to be rescued. The vessel was identified as a 22-foot bowrider powerboat, a type that typically carries about 10 to 12 people.
Boat Operator Arrested After Deadly Capsizing
Authorities arrested 46-year-old Manuel Hernandez of Manhattan following the incident. He faces 13 counts of reckless endangerment. The Coast Guard is also investigating whether the boat trip may have been operating as an illegal charter. The Coast Guard Investigative Service and NYPD are working with investigators to determine what caused the vessel to overturn and whether additional violations played a role.
Surviving Father Faces Devastating Loss
For Sanchez’s family, the tragedy has become even more painful because her husband and the baby’s father was also on the boat and survived. According to his employer, the young father is inconsolable after losing both his wife and infant daughter. The couple also has a six-year-old son, who was staying with a sitter when the adults went out Saturday night. What was supposed to be a fun evening with church friends celebrating a birthday instead left the family facing a loss that will change their lives forever.
Family Had Built a Life Far From Home
The couple lived in Queens but were originally from Colombia. According to the family’s employer, they had no other relatives in the United States. Their community is now rallying around the surviving father and his young son. His employer has started a fundraiser to help the family cope with the devastating aftermath. Friends and neighbors are left mourning a mother and baby whose lives were cut tragically short during what should have been an ordinary night of celebration.
Investigation Continues Into What Went Wrong
Investigators are still working to establish exactly why the boat overturned and whether the trip was being operated legally. But while authorities search for answers, one family is already living with the consequences of a tragedy that cannot be reversed. A birthday celebration on the New York Harbor ended with a mother and her five-month-old daughter dead, a father grieving both of them, and a six-year-old boy growing up without his mother and baby sister. For the family and everyone who knew them, the questions surrounding that night may take time to answer. The emptiness left behind, however, is already permanent.
