A 27-year-old woman and a 5-month-old baby died after a boat capsized near Liberty Island in New York Harbor on Saturday, August 8, at approximately 10:27 p.m. local time, authorities confirmed.
Emergency responders transported 12 other passengers with minor injuries to nearby hospitals. The New York Police Department (NYPD) and Fire Department of New York (FDNY) deployed Harbor, Scuba, and Aviation units to the scene, while the U.S. Coast Guard joined the investigation.
Immediate Response and Core Facts
The incident began when a 22-foot bowrider motorboat overturned off Liberty Island, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation. The FDNY received a call reporting a capsized boat with people in the water and dispatched units to the location.
NYPD divers rescued passengers from the water, while 12 individuals were transported to hospitals with minor injuries. The woman and infant, both in critical condition, were airlifted to NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn, where they were later pronounced dead. Their identities have not been released.
The cause of the capsizing remains under investigation, and authorities have not indicated whether any arrests have been made. The boat’s captain is among those being interviewed as part of the ongoing probe.
Official Statements and Ongoing Investigation
The NYPD confirmed the deaths in a statement, noting that the woman and child were transported to the hospital in critical condition. The FDNY reported that 12 civilians with minor injuries were also taken to area hospitals.
The U.S. Coast Guard stated that investigators would conduct interviews with the boat’s captain as part of their inquiry. No further details about the victims’ relationship or the circumstances leading to the capsizing have been disclosed.
Emergency Response and Public Reaction
Footage from the scene showed emergency responders in the water, with multiple vessels flashing lights as they conducted rescue operations. Witnesses at the hospital were seen holding life jackets, and reports indicated that relatives of the victims expressed distress upon learning of the deaths.
The FDNY, NYPD, and Coast Guard continue to investigate the incident, and updates are expected as more information becomes available.