In an effort to make sure that no other family must go through such a horrific tragedy, the father of a girl who was killed in a Miami incident addressed the media in order to honor his daughter and demand justice.
Two Hispanic families have been devastated by a boating accident that occurred in Florida on July 28, 2025. Erin Victoria Ko Han, a 13-year-old Chilean girl, was one of the two girls killed in the collision. Later, Pil Jye Ko, her father, recalled what she said to him one last time before boarding the sailboat.
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A video of her father’s tearful post-event interview went viral on social media, where hundreds of people shared their sorrow. The teen was attending a summer camp at the time of the incident.
“I had to stop watching the video, seeing this man cry like that breaks me to pieces 😢,” one YouTuber commented. Rest in peace, little angel 👼🙏🕊️. How sad.
“What a tragedy 😢💔❤️💔,” another person wrote, highlighting the extent of the loss. I sincerely apologize 🙏. I hope you find peace, lovely angel. Another person said, “My God, his only daughter 😣😣😣😣😣,” in shock.
An Unfathomable Collision
Around 11:15 a.m. on Monday, a small, 17-foot sailboat carrying five minors and a 19-year-old instructor was struck by a 60-foot barge in Biscayne Bay. Erin and 7-year-old Mila Yankelevich were also killed in the collision.
The instructor had no way of escaping the impact, according to reports in the local media. Both girls died from accidental drowning, according to the autopsy. As of this writing, two of the survivors, ages 8 and 11, were still in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
The Other Victim
Mila was the daughter of Tomás Yankelevich and Sofía Reca, and the granddaughter of producer Cris Morena. She had enrolled in the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation’s summer program, which instructs kids ages 7 to 15 in sailing.
⚠️#MUNDO | ESTADOS UNIDOS: Una barcaza embistió a un velero y mató a dos nenas argentinas en Miami
– Una de las víctimas es nieta de Cris Morena
– Mila Yankelevich tenía 7 años. También murió una chica de 13 y hay otras dos en estado crítico
– El video del momento exacto del… pic.twitter.com/H9Zmpcx3ao
— RADIO FÉNIX 95.1 (@radiofenix951) July 29, 2025
Her grandmother posted a video of the young girl accompanied by the song “Todo Todo” from the Argentine television series “Chiquititas” a few days prior to the accident.
Erin’s History
Pil had resided in Chile until December 2024, where her daughter was born into a Korean-American family. She was a student at Vitacura’s San Pedro Nolasco school, which issued a statement praising her friendliness, dedication to her studies, and participation in school activities.
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At the end of last year, the Ko family relocated to Miami in search of employment and better prospects. Ever since, Erin has been a student at Nautilus Middle School, where she has been involved in extracurricular activities like swimming and volleyball. Her father said she was learning Japanese and spoke Korean, English, and Spanish.
“We join in the grief over the tragic loss of two girls in the boating accident that occurred this Monday in Biscayne Bay,” the Chilean Consulate in Miami said in response to the tragedy. […] We sympathize with their families’ profound grief, particularly that of their parents.
🔴 Se confirmó la identidad de la segunda víctima fatal en Miami
La tragedia en la bahía de Biscayne suma una nueva víctima confirmada: Erin Victoria Ko Han, de 13 años, falleció tras el accidente náutico ocurrido el lunes. El Consulado de Chile en Miami confirmó que Erin era… pic.twitter.com/VWE1sBcsNX
— DNewsOK (@DNewsOK) July 30, 2025
In his heartbreaking testimony, Erin’s father Pil discussed the intense grief his family was going through following the death of their only child in an interview with Local 10 News. He cried as he remarked, “She was everything to us.” “She was a daughter who was ideal.”
Additionally, he recalled the final words his daughter spoke to him and his spouse: “I still remember when we dropped her off.” She said, “See you later, Daddy and Mommy,” as she bid us farewell. Unfortunately, there would never be a reunion.
He hoped the accident was just a bad dream when he learned about it. He kept expecting the hospital to call and inform him that his daughter was alive and doing well. However, they discovered Erin seriously injured and without vital signs when they got to the hospital. He claimed that she had numerous wounds on her head, arms, legs, and other parts of her body.
Throughout the interview, Pil demanded justice. Two of the children are critically ill, and two of the girls have disappeared. “This isn’t possible,” he said, stating that he needs clarification in order to properly bid his daughter farewell.
In addition, his family thanked everyone for their support in a public statement. It said, “A terrible accident on July 28 took Erin from us far too soon, leaving our family heartbroken beyond words and changing our lives forever.”
The father spoke Spanish during the interview, despite the fact that it was for an English-language news organization. After that, the broadcast was subtitled for viewers who spoke English. He said the following:
The family added, “We respectfully ask for privacy during this unfathomably trying time as we grieve Erin and celebrate her wonderful life.” We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the two girls who passed away.
