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Published 08:46 10 Aug 2026 GMT
Terrifying new details have emerged after a packed boat capsized in New York Harbor, killing a mom and baby.
The incident occurred just off Liberty Island, and had emergency services attempting to rescue 14 guests on the boat that flipped upside down.
It was believed that the boat, a 22-foot bowrider motorboat, originally got into trouble in New York Harbor around 10:25PM.
Up until now, it wasn't clear what caused the vessel to capsize - but now the reasons for the boat being on the water in the first place have been revealed.
It has now been established that the overcrowded motorboat was full of people celebrating a birthday that night.
The boat was chartered by Zeus Luxury for passenger Paula Rivera's surprise 41st birthday party, as revealed by her daughter to the New York Post.
The party started at around 7pm with guests getting on the boat. The plan for the party was to charter a sight-seeing voyage around the Statue of Liberty, which is sequestered on Liberty Island.
However, the boat - which was overcapacity and dangerously overcrowded - capsized hours later.
It was a mistake that would prove to be fatal to two passengers; 27-year old Sara Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter Antonella Garcia, who both perished.
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Sara Raez is 20 years old and the daughter of Paula Rivera, whose 41st birthday was the reason for the gathering in New York Harbor.
As Raez describes it, the boat got into trouble as it travelled back from the sightseeing trip to the Statue of Liberty. The boat simply "flipped over" in seconds, she says.
"When we were heading back, we were slow, but out of nowhere, people started screaming because the front of the boat went into the water," she told the Post.
"The water got into the boat. The boat went up, and when it went down — it was in seconds — it flipped over."
All the passengers, she said, were "at the bottom of the boat," but managed to get out and into safety. However, it soon emerged that two passengers, Sarah Sanchez and her daughter Antonella, were not safe.
Eventually, she says, the survivors were able to hail a passing party boat to come to their aid.
It's since emerged that the boat they used, which had front-facing seating perfect for sightseeing, was packed with 14 people, when its seating capacity was supposed to be no more than 10, accoring to NYPD sources and online speculation.
Authorities are still investigating if the boat was operating as an illegal charter. It's captain, 46-year old Manuel Hernandez, has already been charged with 13 offences of reckless endangerment.
