The first victim of the Brooklyn Bridge boat crash has been identified following the devastating incident involving a Mexican naval ship .
The accident occurred at approximately 8:20PM local time on May 17. The Cuauhtémoc, a towering training vessel of the Mexican Navy, lost power shortly after departing Manhattan’s Pier 17, per BBC News.
As it attempted to sail under the Brooklyn Bridge en route to Iceland, its masts struck the underside of the bridge, snapping violently on impact.
Video footage shared online shows the ship, its rigging illuminated by decorative lights, crashing into the iconic bridge, sending debris raining onto the deck and the waters below. Social media posts revealed people dangling from the mast and chaos on board.
Brooklyn resident Nick Corso, 23, was nearby and described the scene to AFP via New.com.au “Lots of screaming, some sailors hanging from the masts, looked like panic happening on the ship. I didn’t see anyone fall into the water but lots of people up top. People ran back and were screaming!”
Another local, Arturo Acatitla, 37, said: “Suddenly we saw all the lights, how they collided, hit the bridge, and they (the sailors) all fell down.”
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) was called at 8:39PM, deploying over 100 personnel, including marine response teams.
“Once the marine units arrived on scene, we knew immediately that we had a serious incident with a boat striking the bridge,” Chief of Training Michael Meyers told reporters.
Marine units ferried rescue teams to the vessel to begin treating and evacuating the injured. “They brought them all here to Pier 16, where we set up a casualty collection point and an EMS staging area to assess the victims,” Meyers added.
Mayor Eric Adams confirmed: “Earlier tonight, the Mexican Navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc lost power and crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge. At this time, of the 277 on board, 19 sustained injuries, 2 of which remain in critical condition, and 2 more have sadly passed away from their injuries.”
Among the victims: a 20-year-old cadet from Veracruz, Mexico, who has now been identified by officials.
“I deeply regret the passing of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez,’’ wrote Veracruz Governor Rocío Nahle García on X Sunday morning, just hours after the incident.
“My love, support and solidarity go out to her family. My gratitude to the Secretariat of the Navy and my wishes for a speedy recovery for those injured. Veracruz is with you.”
The ship was carrying 277 passengers, mostly cadets from the Mexican Navy. The vessel had arrived in New York earlier in the week and was docked at Pier 17 of the South Street Seaport Museum, where it had been open for public tours.
Known as the “Ambassador and Knight of the Seas,” the Cuauhtémoc was on a 254-day voyage to visit 22 ports across 15 countries. The journey began on April 6 in Acapulco and was scheduled to include stops in Havana, Reykjavik, Bordeaux, and Aberdeen, among others.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum posted: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of two crew members of the Cuauhtémoc Training Ship, who lost their lives in the unfortunate accident in New York Harbor. Our sympathy and support go out to their families.”
