NEED TO KNOW
- The family of 7-year-old Calena Areyan Gruber, who survived a boat crash in Miami that killed 3 others, has released a statement about the incident
- “Our hearts are broken for the families who suffered the most unthinkable tragedy in last week’s collision,” they reportedly said in the statement
- The incident claimed the lives of Mila Yankelevich, 7, Erin Ko, 13, and Arielle Buchman, 10
The family of a girl who survived a boat crash in Miami that killed 3 others is speaking out about the tragic incident.
7-year-old Calena Areyan Gruber was hospitalized with injuries from the July 28 incident after a boat carrying students from a sailing program was struck by a barge in Florida. She was released from Jackson Memorial Hospital on Aug. 1, NBC 6 South Florida reported.
In a statement released on Monday, Aug. 4, Calena’s parents, Karina Moreno and Enrique Viqueira said, “Our hearts are broken for the families who suffered the most unthinkable tragedy in last week’s collision,” the outlet reported.
“This is a deeply harrowing reminder of how suddenly and senselessly life can change,” the statement added. “In an instant, what should have been a day of joy and connection on the water turned into a source of unimaginable grief. Our hearts will forever remain with the families involved in this most tragic incident.”
Along with their statement, the parents released a photo of Calena smiling and waving before heading onto the sailboat on the day of the incident.
At around 11:00 a.m. local time, the sailboat containing a total of six people was hit by a barge near Hibiscus Island, causing the boat to go underneath the vessel.
Calena was trapped under the 60-foot ship, but was eventually able to escape and swim out to save her life, the Miami Herald reported. She suffered “open lacerations and scrapes” all over her body and was transported to the hospital in critical condition, the outlet added.
“This was profoundly traumatic,” the family’s attorney, Justin B. Shapiro, told the Miami Herald. “It’s a miracle she’s alive.”
“[Calena] is devastated by what happened, both physically and emotionally,” Shapiro added to NBC 6 South Florida. “She was acutely aware that she could have died and she repeats that to her parents and so it’s going to be a long and difficult road for her.”
The three victims who died in the crash were Mila Yankelevich, 7, Erin Ko, 13, and Arielle Buchman, 10. Their cause and manner of death were determined to be accidental drowning.
The victims were all affiliated with the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation, the Miami Yacht Club previously confirmed in a statement.
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“We are deeply moved and incredibly grateful for the outpouring of prayers and kindness we have received from the community. We now respectfully ask for privacy as we focus on healing and processing this difficult situation,” Calena’s parents added in their statement.
The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the crash.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Gruber family’s attorney for comment.
Read the full article here
