Justin B. Shapiro of Leesfield & Companions represents the household of sailboat crash survivor 7-year-old Calena Gruber, who survived the incident that occurred on July 28, 2025.
A 7-year-old survivor of the lethal Miami sailboat crash has been launched from the hospital, and the lawyer representing her household says the kid “stared death in the face.”
Calena Areyan Gruber was on board the 17-foot sailboat struck by a barge close to Hibiscus Island in Miami Seashore on July 28.
The victims have been recognized as 13-year-old Erin Ko Han, 10-year-old Arielle Buchman and 7-year-old Mila Yankelevich. The youngsters had been all collaborating in a Miami Yacht Membership Youth Crusing Basis summer time camp, lawyer Justin B. Shapiro of Leesfield & Companions advised FOX Enterprise.
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This system director listed on the camp’s web site didn’t reply to FOX Enterprise’ request for remark. This 12 months, eight week-long classes had been provided for kids aged 7-15, and charges to take part ranged from $450 to $500 per little one.
“This is a 7-year-old girl who stared death in the face,” Shapiro mentioned. “She knows how close she was to dying. She was trapped under that barge, and she voices that to her parents repeatedly with crying spells.”
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Shapiro mentioned Calena is “covered in lacerations, bruises, contusions” and is “in terrible pain.”
He mentioned there have been “catastrophic failures” within the highly-congested waters, and the medical expert dominated the three victims died from “accidental drowning.”
“In an instant, what should have been a day of joy and connection on the water turned into a source of unimaginable grief,” Calena’s mother and father, Karina Gruber Moreno and Enrique Areyan Viqueira, mentioned in an announcement.
“Our hearts will forever remain with the families involved in this most tragic incident,” it mentioned.
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The U.S. Coast Guard is the company main the investigation into the crash and advised FOX Enterprise in an announcement that “the evidence collection phase of the marine casualty investigation is ongoing and making progress.”
No findings about who was liable for the collision have been launched.