Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Nassau County Police Department Det. Lt. John Azzata, left, gives information about the fatal boating accident AP Photo/Seth Wenig
New York

Three children dead after New York yacht capsizes

The children died after a yacht full of people watching fireworks capsized off Long Island on 4 July.

A YACHT FULL of fireworks watchers capsized off New York’s Long Island on the Fourth of July, killing three children and sending 24 others into the Long Island Sound, where many were rescued by fellow boaters, police said today.

The bodies of a 12-year-old boy and two girls, ages 11 and 8, were recovered from the boat’s cabin after a long overnight search in the waters near Oyster Bay. The remaining victims were a mix of adults and children.

Preliminary causes for the accident could be overcrowding, weather conditions, or being swamped by another vessel because the area was crowded with many boats all watching fireworks, said Nassau County Police Detective Lt John Azzata

He said alcohol was not believed to be a factor.

There is no evidence or suspicion of any type of intoxicants being utilised.

The 1984 Silverton yacht was “a very recent purchase,” he said.

Azzata said the boat should have had a life jacket for each person on board. However, authorities could not determine if the boat had 27 life jackets because the vessel remained under water. Police said it sank in 20 feet of water but drifted southeast and was sitting in about 60 feet of water.

The first body was found shortly after the 911 call came in at 10.10pm on Wednesday, and the two others were found later inside the yacht, said Nassau County Deputy Inspector Kenneth Lack.

Many boaters in the area helped with the rescue effort.

He said the operation took a long time because “at night in an area like this, it is very dangerous.”

It was a lot of people in the water. Most people were taken aboard other crafts very quickly.

Some survivors were taken to a yacht club. Police said those on board were watching a legal fireworks display.

The National Weather Service said a thunderstorm moved through the area of the boat accident at around 10.30pm, and winds never exceeded 10-15 mph.

A boater told Newsday he saw the yacht turn right and then tip over after it was hit by a wake. “It was like in slow motion,” said Sammy Balasso of Oyster Bay.

All of a sudden, a lot of bodies were in the water.

His nephew, 15-year-old Frankie Barbone of Bayview, said the waves almost came up over the yacht.

Balasso said he put the spotlight of his 38-foot speedboat on the Silverton and then threw all the life jackets he had with him into the water. He said he rescued 20 people who were later taken to the shore in police boats.

Everybody was panicking. People were saying things like ‘Why?’

- Frank Eltman

Read: Costa Concordia ‘sailed with watertight doors open and unapproved maps’>

Author
Associated Foreign Press
Your Voice
Readers Comments
3
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.