The Coast Guard (USCG) rescued 12 people after a boat overturned Saturday night near the Statue of Liberty in New York, killing one woman and a 5-month-old child.
Police received a 911 call at around 10:25 p.m. reporting an overturned boat near Liberty Island. The incident prompted the dispatch of a rescue team which involved two Coast Guard boats, four fire department boats, two police boats, and a police helicopter.
Sea the City, a nearby tour operator saw the capsized boat and helped pull 11 people from the water, the company’s founder Adam Schwartz told CBS.
But a 27-year-old woman and a 5-month-old baby died at the scene, according to ABC News.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life last night, and our thoughts are with the victims’ family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” said Captain Doreen McCarthy, the Coast Guard Sector New York Commander, in a statement.
“We are extremely grateful for the heroic, swift actions of our partner agencies and Good Samaritan vessel who assisted in rescuing survivors from the water. We are working closely with CGIS and the NYPD to investigate this incident. We are committed to holding illegal operators accountable to highest extent of the law to ensure the safety of everyone on our waterways,” McCarthy added.
Military.com reached out to the Coast Guard on Monday for further details and updates. No response was received.
A US Coast Guard vessel makes it way up the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty during the naval review of military ships, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
On Sunday, police arrested the operator of the boat, who CBS identified as Manuel Hernandez. He has been charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment, according to the BBC, citing the New York Police Department.
The survivors remain in a stable condition, per reports.
Other Enforcement Missions
The Coast Guard’s other recent rescue missions have saved lives at sea.
The Coast Guard recently rescued a 9-year-old child after dogs attacked him on a beach in the Bahamas.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement that authorities took the unnamed child to a local hospital after several dogs attacked him and left injuries across numerous parts of his body at around 10 a.m. July 28 while he was playing on the beach.
Italy’s tall ship Amerigo Vespucci sails in the New York harbor during the International Parade of Sail, part of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
In July, the Coast Guard suspended a search and rescue mission three days after a boat capsized in San Francisco, leaving one person dead and another three missing.
“Suspending a search is one of the hardest parts of the job and our condolences are with the families of all involved,” said Coast Guard Cmdr. Captain Jarod Toczko in a statement at the time.
In July, the Coast Guard rescued a man after he was seen sinking in a catamaran in Hawaii.
The man was evaluated by medical staff, which found he had no medical concerns. The boat sunk with some 30 to 40 gallons of diesel fuel, two batteries, and 3 to 4 gallons of oil aboard.
Authorities have not identified the passengers involved in the incident. They have said the investigation into the incident is ongoing and the USCG is determining whether the boat was illegally chartered.