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MIAMI (WSVN) - The two young girls killed in a tragic sailboat crash in Biscayne Bay died of accidental drowning, the Miami-Dade County medical examiner’s office said Thursday.
The victims were identified as 7-year-old Mila Yankelevich of Argentina and 13-year-old Erin Ko, a Chilean national who had recently moved to the United States, officials said.
Both were participating in a youth sailing lesson through the Miami Yacht Club on Monday when their small sailboat collided with a barge near Hibiscus Island.
Ko, who formerly attended San Pedro Nolasco School in Santiago, Chile, was remembered by her school community as “well-rounded, approachable, empathetic” and a strong student active in volleyball, the trapeze and fabric workshop.
In a video posted to social media Thursday, the school honored her life with a balloon release and a memorial.
Ko’s family said on Thursday that their lives have been forever changed.
In a statement, the family said in part: “…Our grief extends to all those affected by this tragedy. We hold the other victims and their loved ones in our hearts, sharing in the profound sorrow this loss has brought to so many.”
Yankelevich, the youngest daughter of a family well-known in Argentina’s entertainment industry, was previously identified by relatives and Argentine media.
The crash, which left two other children injured, has rattled the South Florida and international sailing communities.
U.S. Coast Guard officials said all of the children were wearing life jackets at the time of the collision.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities examining both vessels and interviewing witnesses.
On Thursday, the Coast Guard said the toxicology for both individuals onboard the tug and barge and sailboat operator returned negative.
“Our hearts are with the families of the victims, and we stand united in our grief and resolve,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Frank Florio.
One of the hospitalized children, 7-year-old Calena Gruber, was released after receiving stitches and treatment for minor injuries, according to a family social media post. An 11-year-old girl, identified by a Bal Harbour synagogue as Arielle, remains in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
The Miami Yacht Club’s youth sailing program has been suspended as the Coast Guard works to determine how the deadly crash occurred. They have posted several mental health and counseling resources on their social media page.
Officials said the investigation could take several months.
Coast Guard officials are asking for the public to turn over photos, videos from Monday’s incident that could help them in their investigation. If you have any information that may help them, reach out to MiamiIO@uscg.mil.
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