Little Jewish Girl Dies After Biscayne Boating Tragedy
Arielle Mazi Buchman, 10, has died from injuries sustained in a Biscayne Bay boating accident, raising the death toll to three. The July 28 crash, which involved a children's sailing class and a barge, has shaken the Miami community and triggered an investigation by U.S. Coast Guard and local officials.
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A 10-year-old girl has succumbed to injuries sustained in a tragic boating collision in Biscayne Bay last week, bringing the death toll to three in an incident that has devastated local families and prompted an ongoing investigation into water safety.
Arielle Mazi Buchman, described by relatives as a "sweet and beloved" child, died on Saturday, August 3, 2025, after fighting for her life in critical condition for several days. The accident occurred on Monday, July 28, during a summer sailing program organized by the Miami Yacht Club, where a small sailboat carrying young participants collided with a large barge near Hibiscus Island.
Two other girls, 13-year-old Erin Victoria Ko Han and 7-year-old Mila Yankelevich, were pronounced dead shortly after the crash, with autopsies confirming accidental drowning as the cause. A fourth child, an 8-year-old girl, was injured but has since been released from the hospital.
Arielle, known to friends and family as "Ari," was from the Miami Beach area and part of a prominent local family. She was the cousin of Gabriel Groisman, the former mayor of Bal Harbour and a vocal advocate for community issues. In a statement on social media, Groisman expressed his family's profound grief: "On the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, my family mourns the loss of our 10-year-old cousin Arielle, who passed away as a result of a tragic sailboat accident that occurred early in the week."
The U.S. Coast Guard and Miami-Dade authorities are investigating the circumstances of the collision, which caused the sailboat to capsize. Initial reports suggest the barge struck the smaller vessel, but details remain under review. Erin's father spoke publicly about his loss, calling his daughter a "perfect" student at Nautilus Middle School and urging for accountability in the probe.