Granddaughter of renowned Argentine TV producers dies in Miami boat crash
The 7-year-old granddaughter of two renowned Argentine television producers was one of the two girls killed Monday when a 60-foot barge crashed into a summer-camp sailboat with five children and one counselor on board off Hibiscus Island in Biscayne Bay.
Mila Yankelevich, 7, was the grandaughter of Cris Morena and Gustavo Yankelevich, two prominent Argentine media producers, according to La Nacion, one of Argentina’s two largest newspapers. A 13-year-old girl also died in the crash.
The Argentine consulate in Miami confirmed Mila’s death.
“With regard to the accident that occurred in the city of Miami, the Consulate General and Promotion Center of the Argentine Republic has been informed of the incident and remains fully available to assist the family members, who reside within its jurisdiction,”Alicia Barragán of the consulate said in a statement to the Miami Herald.
Authorities have not identified the two girls who died nor the two girls who are in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The girls in the hospital are ages 8 and 11, the Coast Guard said. The two who were rescued were a 12-year-old girl and a 19-year-old female.
Mila’s father, Tomás Yankelevich, is a producer and director and her mother, Sofía Reca, is an actress in Argentina. The family lives in Surfside, according to Miami-Dade County property records.
Cris Morena, Mila’s grandmother, is an acclaimed actress, musician, and television producer. On Feb. 12, Morena posted a tribute on Instagram for Mila’s birthday.
“Mila, my girl with wings, my happy and free little fairy… our moments together filled with dancing, songs…” she wrote in Spanish in the caption, adding that Mila embodied “the sun, freedom, and hugs.” The post included a slideshow of photos and collages celebrating Mila’s life.
The five girls and the 19-year-old camp counselor were in a 17-foot Hobie Getaway as part of summer camp program at Miami Yacht Club. The club, nearly a century old, is on Watson Island off the MacArthur Causeway and teaches children how to sail.
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They were sailing in Biscayne Bay when the barge, being pushed by a tugboat, crashed into them around 11 a.m Monday. The impact caused the barge to go over the top of the sailboat, which capsized between Monument and Hibiscus islands, Miami Beach police said.
The barge was carrying a crane and what looked like dock pilings, according to photos. The company that owns the barge has not been identified by authorities.
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The Yankelevich family has endured tragedy before—Morena and Gustavo Yankelevich had a daughter, Romina, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 36 from a heart attack.
This story has been updated to reflect that Gustavo Yankelevich is alive.
This story was originally published July 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM.