‘Heartbroken beyond words.’ Family of girl killed in sailboat crash speaks out

The family of 13-year-old Erin Ko, who was killed when a barge slammed into a sailboat of summer campers in Biscayne Bay on Monday, thanked the community for its support during what they call an “unimaginably difficult time.”

Erin was among five girls and a camp counselor aboard a 17-foot Hobie Getaway, part of a Miami Yacht Club summer camp program teaching children to sail, when it was hit by a 60-foot barge being pushed by a tugboat. The impact of the crash, which happened around 11 a.m. Monday, caused the boat to capsize.

The accident also claimed the life of 7-year-old Mila Yankelevich, the granddaughter of well-known Argentine television producers Cris Morena and Gustavo Yankelevich. Mila and her parents, also prominent in the arts, had moved to South Florida.

READ MORE: Two girls dead, two others critical after barge hits sailboat in Biscayne Bay: Coast Guard

On behalf of the grieving Ko family, Erin’s uncle and godfather, Alvin Wu, delivered the family’s message to the public.

“Our lives were forever changed by a devastating accident that took Erin from us far too soon, leaving our family heartbroken beyond words,” the statement read. “We hold the other victims and their loved ones in our hearts, sharing in the profound sorrow this loss has brought to so many.”

READ MORE: We were screaming and screaming.’ Witnesses watch as barge hits sailboat of campers

The Ko family has asked for privacy as they begin the painful process of grieving and healing. They shared a selection of photos commemorating Erin’s life and said they hope, in time, to speak more about who she was and the joy she brought to those around her.

Erin attended Colegio San Pedro Nolasco de Vitacura in a province of Santiago until her family moved to South Florida in December. In a statement released Wednesday, the school remembered Erin as a kind, gifted student who “left an indelible mark” on their community.

Erin excelled academically, especially in math, the school noted. She was on the volleyball team and participated in trapeze.

“Her friendliness and personality allowed her to interact with students at different levels, whether through her participation in extracurricular activities or through the family ties that united her with classmates from other classes,” the school wrote.

A memorial Mass was held Thursday in Chile, where Erin’s former classmates and relatives gathered to remember her. In a video shared by the school, students formed a circle and released white balloons in her honor.

“While she was here, she was a light for us, for our school, “ the Chilean school’s elementary school director Francisca Aburto told Miami Herald news partner CBS Miami. “Erin left a mark that’s indelible. So that’s very important for us to pass that on.

“For me, I also taught Erin before taking over as principal. I was her teacher in fifth grade, and in sixth grade. It was a wonderful experience…”

Erin also had attended Nautilus Middle School in Miami Beach, Local 10 reported. The Miami-Dade school district confirmed Friday she was a student at one of its schools.

The collision occurred near Hibiscus and Monument Islands off Miami Beach. Two other campers, ages 8 and 11, were critically injured and rushed to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, officials say. The 19-year-old camp counselor and a 12-year-old girl were treated at the scene.

READ MORE: Captain who crashed barge into sailboat in Miami Beach not impaired: officials

“The entire MYC family is devastated by this terrible tragedy,’’ Emily Copeland, the Miami Yacht Club’s commodore, said in an email to the Herald.

READ MORE: ‘Not some boujee yacht club.’ Miami Yacht Club has mission of teaching kids to sail

The U.S. Coast Guard, which is leading the investigation into the crash, has yet to publicly identify the victims nor indicate the girls’ conditions at Jackson.

The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office, which conducted the autopsies, concluded Erin and Mila accidentally drowned.

This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 3:16 PM.