‘Katy continues to inspire.’ City of Miami honors boat crash survivor still recovering
The City of Miami declared Thursday Katy Puig Day in honor of a young woman who continues to recover from catastrophic injuries she suffered in a Biscayne Bay boat crash almost three years ago.
“Katerina “Katy” Puig is a courageous young woman whose unwavering spirit, resilience, and leadership have profoundly inspired the City of Miami,” the proclamation, signed by Mayor Francis Suarez, begins.
The crash killed her close friend and 17-year-old classmate at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Luciana “Lucy” Fernandez, and led to the charging of the boat’s operator, Doral real estate developer George Pino, with felony vessel homicide. He has pleaded not guilty.
Katy and Lucy were embarking on their senior year and looking forward to college when the crash happened. They were riding on Pino’s boat with 10 of their friends on Sept. 4, 2022, when he crashed the 29-foot Robalo into a fixed channel marker at nearly 50 mph, ejecting everyone from the vessel.
Lucy died the next day in the hospital. Katy, a star soccer player at Lourdes with Division-1 college prospects, now uses a wheelchair to get around. Then 17 and now 20, she suffered brain injuries and is in and out of physical therapy trying to regain motor skills.
“In the face of tremendous adversity, Katy has shown exceptional strength and perseverance — overcoming unimaginable challenges with grace, determination, and an unbreakable will to move forward,” reads the proclamation.
This story was originally published July 10, 2025 at 11:51 AM.
