An unimaginable tragedy is unfolding in Florida after a boat capsized in St. Johns River last week, leaving authorities searching for a missing child while confirming the deaths of three people.
No one wore a life jacket
The incident took place on Friday, March 21, when the U.S. Coast Guard received an alert about an overturned 18-foot vessel.
”Four people were on top of the vessel, and an additional four people were possibly underneath,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.
Tragically, none of the eight people onboard were wearing life jackets, according to authorities. A GoFundMe identified the victims as Cristian Marin, his children Victoria and Juan Camilo Marin, and his mother, Nubia Romero.
Everyone has been found except for little Victoria.
The Coast Guard acted quickly, with a marine unit from the sheriff’s office rescuing four people who were on top of the vessel. However, another person was “recovered from the water unresponsive” and later pronounced dead.
Despite extensive efforts to contact the individuals reportedly trapped underneath the vessel, no responses were heard. Divers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office also searched under the boat, but no one was found.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue reported that the group had been out capturing photos of the sunset.
An exhaustive 17-hour search
After an exhaustive 17-hour search covering over 270 square miles, the Coast Guard suspended its search for the three missing individuals — one adult and two minors. Authorities are still holding out hope as they continue to search for the missing child.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that the investigation into the incident is ongoing, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission leading the probe.
The search for little Victoria in Florida’s St. Johns River continues, but strong currents are making the operation increasingly difficult, according to Action News Jax. The St. Johns River, the longest in the state at 310 miles, presents challenges for dive teams using sonar technology to scan the waters at slow speeds.
Captain Tyler Barrus, a boating safety expert, explained that currents in the river can reach up to 8-10 mph in certain areas, complicating rescue efforts.
He emphasized that even when a boat is rated for a certain capacity, it’s always safer to carry fewer people to reduce the risk of capsizing.
Boating safety remains a key concern, with Barrus noting that “probably 80 to 90% of people are not wearing a life jacket.” The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that none of the victims in Friday’s tragedy had life jackets on.
While adults are not required to wear them in Florida, children under six must have one on at all times. Additionally, every boat must have an immediately accessible Type IV personal flotation device, which can be thrown into the water to aid a person in distress and serve as a marker for rescuers.
The victims
While authorities haven’t officially identified the victims of the accident, a GoFundMe fundraiser disclosed that Cristian Marin, his children Victoria and Juan Camilo Marin, and his mother, Nubia Romero, all perished in the tragic incident on Friday.
CW affiliate WJXT reported on the fundraiser, which described the victims as follows:
“Cristian was a devoted father, and his children, Victoria and Juan Camilo, were young souls full of promise and love,” the description read.
“Nubia Romero, Cristian’s mother, had traveled from Colombia to visit her family and was tragically taken from them in this unexpected accident.”
A Facebook post from Florida Homes Realty & Mortgage identified Cristian Marin as one of its agents and expressed condolences to his family.
“We ask the Florida Homes Realty & Mortgage family and community to join us in praying for their loved ones during this unimaginable time,” the company wrote. “Our deepest and most heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, family, and friends. May they find strength and comfort in the love and support surrounding them.”
The mother speaks out
On Tuesday, Victoria and Juan’s mother and Cristian’s wife shared a heartfelt message thanking those who have offered support since the tragic accident.
Speaking through a friend, Paula Valderrama expressed both her deep sorrow and her gratitude.
“She would like to thank all those who took the time to search for her family. Thank you to all the agencies involved tirelessly in this search. Her heartbreak from losing her whole family is indescribable, and she is beyond appreciative for all those who have prayed for the family and reached out to her to see how they can help. She is grateful to have such a loving community during this tragedy,” she said, according to News4Jax.
Anyone with information that could assist in the search for the missing child is urged to contact Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville at 904-714-7558.
This heartbreaking tragedy has left a community in mourning, with lives forever altered by an unfathomable loss.
As authorities continue their search, our thoughts remain with the grieving family and all those impacted by this devastating incident.
