Two people, including a 7-year-old boy, were killed after a boat capsized on the Hudson River near the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Tuesday afternoon, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said.
"This is a tragic day for New Yorkers," Sewell said at a press conference around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. "Indeed, it may have well been worse were it not for the incredible effort by not only our own extraordinary first responders but also the swift response from the NY Waterway ferries who rescued nine additional people from the water."
NYPD deployed scuba divers to retrieve an adult woman in the water, but the woman was unresponsive, Sewell said. FDNY marine divers retrieved the 7-year-old boy, who was also unresponsive, she said. Both were later pronounced dead.
The woman, who was later identified as Lindelia Vasquez, was 47 years old, officials said. The child was later identified as Julian Vasquez, police said.
Authorities revealed Wednesday morning that both the woman and the child were visiting from Colombia.
Two other people who were on the boat are in critical condition, FDNY Acting Commissioner Laura Kavanagh added. Another is in critical but stable condition, the acting fire commissioner said, and eight others are injured but in stable condition.
"It's a clear reminder to us as we move through the summer months, the water is an enjoyable part of New York, but it can be a dangerous place," Mayor Eric Adams said at the press conference.
The boat capsized near Pier 86, right in front of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum just before 3 p.m., officials said.
The investigation into how the boat capsized is still underway, according to officials. The boat was still in the water at Chelsea Piers as of 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, officials said. Twelve people were aboard when it capsized, officials said.
Nine people were rescued by NY Waterway ferries, the NYPD confirmed. Photos provided to NY1 by the ferry operator show people climbing aboard one of their boats.
The owner of the boat was following on a jet ski and the captain who was operating the boat is in critical condition, officials said. The captain was licensed, according to NYPD.
"The Hudson River is always a dangerous place to operate," said NYPD Inspector Anthony Russo, the commanding officer of the department's harbor unit.
#Breaking Major rescue underway in Hudson River at 42nd and 34th streets. Some sort of boating accident with people in the water. Several in critical. pic.twitter.com/S5jzFh4wEZ
— Dean Meminger (@DeanMeminger) July 12, 2022
