The heartbroken father of **13‑year‑old Erin Ko Han** has shared their final words before tragedy struck—moments she said “**See you later, Mom and Dad!**” as she eagerly began her first day at Miami Yacht Club’s sailing camp. That bright farewell turned into fatal silence on July 28, when a barge struck the sailboat Erin was aboard in **Biscayne Bay**, dragging it under and leaving two young girls dead UNILAD reports Erin’s father’s grief and **AP News** confirms the crash statistics in official incident coverage.
Pil Jye Ko, who had moved his family from Chile to Florida in 2024 seeking opportunity, described Erin as his “**perfect daughter**”—trilingual in English, Spanish, and Korean, learning Japanese, and excelling at volleyball and academics. The moment they dropped her off, she was smiling. But the day ended in horror: Erin drowned after suffering catastrophic injuries, and Ko had to identify her body at the hospital as his painful memories reveal and **Local 10 WPLG** captures his anguish in direct quotes.
“She said, ‘See you later.’ I thought it was forever.”
Authorities say the cruise collision involved a **barging company** working on coastal construction near Hibiscus Island. All children aboard—five girls aged 7 to 13 plus a 19-year-old instructor—were wearing life jackets, but two youngsters, Erin and **7‑year-old Mila Yankelevich**, drowned after the vessel was swept beneath the barge. Two others (ages 8 and 11) remain critically injured at Jackson Memorial Hospital as AP News outlines and UNILAD documents victim identities and family legacy.
Mila Yankelevich was the granddaughter of celebrated Argentine TV producers **Cris Morena** and **Gustavo Yankelevich**, adding global attention to the loss. Tributes poured in from celebrities in Argentina, while in Miami, Erin’s father has demanded answers: “**I need to know what happened**… We can’t say goodbye as if nothing happened,” he said, struggling with grief and the absence of justice as reported in UNILAD’s emotional profile and **Local 10’s in-depth interview** including his plea for investigation.
The **U.S. Coast Guard** has launched a salvage and formal investigation operation. Captain **Frank Florio** emphasized the importance of finding the cause behind the rare barge‑vessel crash—only 43 of over 550 recreational boating deaths occurred from vessel collisions in U.S. waters in 2024 as he pledged accountability.
Video captured the moment children were thrown overboard as the boat flipped under the crane-like barge arm. Witnesses described the chaos: “**All the kids went flying off**,” one sailor said. Authorities note the barge captain passed a sobriety test at the scene and remains unidentified publicly as investigations continue NY Post footage report and AP News confirmation of testing.
Local families and schools remain in shock. Nautilus Middle School, where Erin was a standout learner-athlete, offered grief counseling and canceled classes near the site. Community vigils included tears, floating candles, and prayers in multiple languages—honoring both Erin and Mila’s lives UNILAD’s community response coverage and **Local 10’s school statement** on grief support measures.
Beyond grief, the incident raises serious questions about sailing camp regulations, barge safety, and oversight of recreational programs. Pil Ko emphasized he placed trust in the program to protect his daughter—just as he and his violinist wife had immigrated for her future. Now, they are left with only a final goodbye echoed in his memory: **“See you later”—but now forever silent.”
